DHisiEL  Boone 

^CeC/L  <d.H/?RTLEY 


The 

Howell  Collection 

OF    HISTORICAL 
MATERIALS 


Presented  by  Kay  Kyser 

And  his  Mother 

Emily  Royster  Howell  Kyser 

As  a  Memorial 

To  her  Brother 

Edward  Vernon  Howell 

Dean  School  of  Pharmacy 

1897-1931 


THE   UNIVERSITY 

OF 

NORTH   CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  LIFE  OF 

DANIEL  BOONE 

The  Founder  of  the  State  of  Kentucky 
By  CECIL  B.  HARTLEY 

Author  of  "LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  LEWIS 
WETZEL.  THE  VIRGINIA  RANGER,"  -HUNT- 
ING SPORTS  IN  THE  WEST,"  -LIFE  OF  FRAN- 
CIS MARION."  etc.,  etc.  ><>«>€>< 


A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY,     j»     ^     ^     jfe 
^      J^      ^      PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  1903, 
By  E.  A.  BRAINERD, 


PEEFAOE. 


The  subject  of  the  following  biography,  the 
celebrated  Colo]s:el  Daniel  Boone,  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  men  which  this  country  has 
produced  His  character  is  marked  with  origi- 
nality, and  his  actions  were  important  and  influ- 
ential in  one  of  the  most  interesting  periods  of 
our  history — ^that  of  the  early  settlement  of 
Kentucky.  Boone  is  generally  acknowledged  as 
the  founder  of  that  State.  His  having  explored 
it  alone  to  a  considerable  extent ;  his  leading 
the  earliest  bands  of  settlers;  his  founding 
Boonesborough,  the  nucleus  of  the  future  State ; 
his  having  defended  this  and  other  stations  suc- 
cessfully against  the  attacks  of  the  Indians  ;  and 
the  prominent  part  which  he  took  in  militaiy 

^      affairs  at  this  period  of  distress  and  peril,  cer* 
fi  iii 

0 

o 
4 


iv  PREFACE. 

tainly  render  his  claims   to  the   distinguished 
honor  of  founding  Kentucky  very  strong. 

But  Boone,  personally,  reaped  veiy  little 
benefit  from  his  patriotic  and  disinterested  ex- 
ertions. The  lands  ^\^hich  he  had  first  cultivated 
and  defended,  ^^'ere  taken  from  him  by  the 
chicanery  of  the  law;  other  lands  granted  to 
him  by  the  Spanish  government  were  lost  by  his 
inattention  to  legal  forms ;  and  in  his  old  age  he 
was  without  an  acre  of  land  which  he  could 
call  his  own.  A  few  years  before  his  death  a 
small  tract,  such  as  any  other  settler  in  Missouri 
was  entitled  to,  was  granted  him  by  Congress. 
But  he  has  left  to  his  numerous  posterity  a 
nobler  inheritance — that  of  an  imperishable 
fame  in  the  annals  of  his  country  I 


INTRODUCTOEY  NOTE. 


The  story  of  pioneer  life  in  the  early  wilds  of  Ken- 
tucky and  ''  the  AVinningof  the  West  "—to  use  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt's  apt  title-phrase— is  exciting  and  full 
of  interest.  One  of  its  first  white  discoverers  was  the 
hunter,  John  Finley,  who,  in  1767,  with  some  compan- 
ions, crossed  the  Alleghanies  and  entered  the  hitherto 
little  known  region  beyond.  Of  this  early  pioneer, 
Colonel  Daniel  Boone,  then  residing  at  Yadkin,  S.  C, 
interestingly  heard,  and  in  1769  he  and  six  comrade 
w^oodsmen  set  out  across  the  mountains  by  way  of 
Cumberland  Gap  to  explore  for  themselves  the  Eastern 
Kentucky  district,  which  in  early  days  was  known  to 
the  outer  world  by  the  now  almost  forgotten  designa- 
tion of  the  colony  of  Transylvania.  Previous  to  this 
time  the  explorers  in  the  region  had  been  few ;  and 
even  the  Indian  inhabitants  had  departed  from  it,  to  be 
afterwards  harried  by  the  troops  of  Lord  Dunmore  in 
the  Ohio  Valley  in  the  Western  border  war  of  the 
Revolution. 

Boone's  progenitors  had  emigrated  from  Devon,  Eng- 
land, and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  some  of  them 
joined  the  Quakers,  while  Boone's  father,  in  1748,  re- 
moved to  South  Carolina  and  settled  on  the  Yadkin  at 
Holman's  Ford.  It  was  there  that  Daniel  Boone  set 
forth,  as  above  narrated,  and,  though  twice  captured 
by  Indians,  he  escaped  and  returned  to  his  home  in 


xni 


Xiv  INTRODUCTORY  NOTE. 

1771,  only,  however,  to  set  out  again  for  Kentucky  two 
years  later,  and  this  time  with  his  family  and  the 
families  of  six  other  emigrants. 

In  Kentucky,  Boone  and  his  little  colony  built  a  fort 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Kentucky  River,  at  a  place  they 
called  Boonesborough,  and  here  they  lived  an  exciting, 
adventurous  life,  in  constant  danger  from  lurkmg  In- 
dians, who  once  more  made  Boone  captive,  with  some 
of  his  people  ;  while  two  of  his  daughters  were  surprised 
canoeing  on  the  river,  though  immediatel}^  lescued. 
Boone  and  his  comrades  were  conveyed  by  the  In- 
dians to  Detroit,  where  all  were  ransomed  save  Boone 
himself,  who  was  taken  to  the  tribal  seat,  Chillicothe, 
and  there  adopted  into  the  family  of  a  Shawnee  chief. 
Though  closely  watched  by  his  captors,  Boone,  on 
learning  that  the  tribe  contemplated  a  raid  on  his  own 
settlement,  managed  to  escape,  and  after  a  journey  of 
160  miles  turned  up,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  in  time  to 
defend  his  family  and  people  in  the  fort  from  an  at- 
tacking party  of  450  Indians  and  some  Frenchmen, 
who  assailed  their  stronghold  for  over  twelve  days,  but 
were  finally  beaten  off  with  great  loss.  This  deter- 
mined assault  on  the  fort  of  Boonesborough  is  described 
as  "  one  of  the  most  heroic  of  those  bloody  struggles 
between  civilization  and  barbarism  which  have  ren- 
dered the  plains  of  Kentucky  memorable."  The  at- 
tacking Indians,  as  we  have  said,  were  aided  by  some 
French,  under  Captain  Ducptesne ;  and  both  Indians 
and  French  bore  British  and  French  colors,  while  the 
surrender  of  the  Fort  was  demanded  in  tlie  name  of 
His  BriU^nnic  Majesty.  After  the  raising  of  the  siege 
and  the  departure  of  the  assaulting  force,  the  Fort  was 
afterwards  free  from  Indian  attack ;  while  settlement 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE.  XV 

in  Kentucky  rapidly  advanced,  the  Revolutionary  War 
di'iving  manj^  settlers  far  to  the  West. 

The  event  we  have  just  related  took  place  in  August, 
1778,  and,  four  years  later,  Boone  fought  a  battle  against 
the  Indians  at  Blue  Licks,  where  one  of  his  .sons  was 
killed.  In  1790,  on  the  separation  of  Kentucky  from 
Virginia,  the  great  hunter  and  pioneer  settled  for  a 
time  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the  Kanawha  Piver ;  and 
from  1795  to  1804,  after  removing  to  Missouri,  then  a 
Spanish  possession,  he  acted  as  Commandant  of  the 
Femme  Osage  district,  having  received  a  grant  of  8,000 
acres  for  his  public  services.  This  and  other  land 
grants  Boone  unfortunately  lost  when  the  United  States 
became  possessed  of  Spanish  territory ;  though  he  was 
to  some  extent  recouped  for  these  losses  by  other  land 
grants,  after  an  appeal  to  the  Legislature  of  Kentucky 
and  to  Congress.  Boone  died  on  his  Missouri  farm  at 
Charette  in  September,  1820,  and  a  quarter  of  a  century 
afterwards  the  State  of  Kentucky  paid  his  memory  the 
honor  of  removing  his  remains  for  interment  ui  Ken- 
tucky soil,  near  Frankfort.  Here  his  grave  is  the  ob- 
ject of  veneration  by  the  patriotic  among  his  country- 
men, and  by  those  especially  who  remember  his  great 
services  at  an  early  era  to  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Keijtucky. 

Q.  Me:&cer  Adam. 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


OF 


COLONEL  DANIEL  BOONE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  family  of  Daniel  Boone— His  grandfather  emigrates  to 
America,  and  settles  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania — Fam- 
ily of  Daniel  Boone's  father — Account  of  Exeter,  the  birth- 
place of  Boone — Birth  of  Daniel  Boone — Religion  of  his 
family — Boone's  boyhood — Goes  to  School — Anecdote — 
Summary  termination  of  his  schooling. 

The  immediate  ancestors  and  near  relations 
of  the  American  Boone  family,  resided  at  Brad- 
mnch,  about  eight  miles  from  Exeter,  England. 
George  Boone,  the  gi-andfather  of  Daniel,  emi- 
grated to  America  and  amved,  A^dth  Mary  his 
wife,  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  of  October, 
1717.  They  brought  with  them  eleven  chil- 
dren, two  daughters  and  nine  sons.     The  names 

of  three   of  the  sons  hav^e  come  down  to  us. 

1 


2  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

John,  James,  and  Squire.  The  last  of  these, 
Squire  Boone,  was  the  father  of  Daniel. 

George  Boone,  immediately  after  his  amval 
in  America,  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
what  is  now  Bucks  County,  which  he  settled, 
and  called  it  Exeter,  after  the  city  near  which 
he  was  born.  The  records  distinguish  it  only 
as  the  to^vnship  of  Exeter,  ^vithout  any  county. 
He  purchased  also  vaiious  other  tracts  in  Mary- 
land and  Virginia;  and  our  tradition  says, 
among  othei*s,  the  ground  on  which  George- 
town, District  of  Columbia,  now  stands,  and 
that  he  laid  the  to^v^n  out,  and  gave  it  his  own 
name.  His  sons  John  and  James  lived  and 
died  on  the  Exeter  purchase.* 

Daniel  Boone's  father,  Squire  Boone,  had 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz. :  James,f 
Samuel,  Jonathan,  Daniel,  George,  Squire,  Ed« 
ward,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  Hannah. 

Exeter  Township  is  situated  in  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  noAV  has  a  population  of  over 

*  *•'  Pittsburg  Gazette,"  quoted  by  Teck. 

f  The  eldest,  James,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1773,  and 
his  son  Israel  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Blue  Lic^ks,  August 
19th,  1782. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  3 

two  thousand.  Here  Dauiel  Boone  was  Ixrni, 
on  tte  nth  of  February,  1735  * 

The  maiden  name  of  Boone's  mother  was 
Sarah  Morgan.  Some  dispute  has  arisen  re- 
specting  the  religious  persuasion  of  the  Boone 
family.  It  would  appear,  on  a  review  of  the 
whole  controversy,  that  before  their  removal 
to  this  country,  the  Boones  were  Episcopalians ; 
but  during  their  residence  in  Pennsylvania 
they  permitted  themselves  to  be  considered 
Quakers.  "What  sort  of  a  Quaker  Daniel 
Boone  himself  was,  will  be  apparent  in  the 
course  of  our  narrative. 

Exeter,  the  native  place  of  Daniel  Boone, 
was  at  this  period  a  small  frontier  settlement, 
consisting  of  log-houses,  surrounded  with  woods, 
which  abounded  with  game  of  various  kinds 
and  were  occasionally  infested  with  hostile 
Indians.  It  is  not  surprising  that  Daniel,  pass- 
ing the  period  of  his  boyhood  in  such  a  place, 


*Bogant  gives  11th  of  February,  1735.  Peck,  February, 
1735.  Another  account  gives  1746  as  the  year  of  his  birth, 
and  Bucks  County  as  his  birthplace.  The  family  record,  in 
the  handwriting  of  Daniel  Boone's  uncle,  James,  who  was  • 
schoolmaster,  gives  the  14th  of  July,  1733. 


4  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

sliould  lia\'e  acquired  at  an  early  age  tlie  ac« 
complishments  of  a  hunter  and  woodsman. 
From  a  mere  child  it  was  his  chief  delight  to 
roam  in  the  woods,  to  observe  the  wild  haunts 
of  Nature,  and  to  pursue  the  wild  animals 
which  were  then  so  abundant. 

Of  the  boyhood  of  Daniel  Boone,  one  of  his  bi- 
ographers gives  the  following  account.  Speak- 
ing of  the  residence  of  the  family  at  Exeter, 
he  says :  ^ 

"  Here  they  lived  for  ten  years  ;  and  it  was 
during  this  time  that  their  son  Daniel  began  to 
show  his  passion  for  hunting.  He  was  scarcely 
able  to  carry  a  gun  when  he  was  shooting  all 
the  squiiTcls,  raccoons,  and  even  Avild  cats  (it 
is  said),  that  he  could  find  in  that  region.  As 
he  grew  older,  his  courage  increased,  and  then 
we  find  him  amusing  himself  with  higher  game. 
Other  lads  in  the  neighborhood  were  soon 
taught  by  him  the  use  of  the  rifie,  and  were 
then  able  to  join  him  in  his  adventures.  On 
one  occasion,  they  all  started  out  for  a  hunt, 

*  "  Adventures  of  Daniel  Boone,  the  Kentucky  Rifleman.' 
By  the  author  of  "  Uacle  Philip's  Conversations." 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  5 

and,  after  amusing  themselves  till  it  was  almost 
dark,  were  returniug  homeward,  when  sud- 
denly  a  wild  cry  was  heard  in  the  woods.  The 
boys  screamed  out, 'A  panther!  A  panther!' 
and  ran  off  as  fast  as  they  could.  Boone  stood 
fii-mly,  looking  around  for  the  animal.  It  was 
a  panther  indeed.  His  eye  lighted  upon  him 
just  in  the  act  of  springing  toward  him ;  in  an 
instant  he  leveled  his  rifle,  and  shot  him  through 

the  heart. 

"  But  this  sort  of  sport  was  not  enough  for 
him.     He  seemed  resolved  to  go  away  from 
men,  and  live  in  the  forests  with  these  animals. 
One'  morning  he  started  off  as  usual,  with  his 
rifle  and  dog.     Night  came  on,  but  Daniel  did 
not  return  to  his  home.      Another  day  and 
night  passed  away,  and  still  the  boy  did  not 
make  his  appearance.     His  parents  were  now 
greatly  alarmed.     The  neighbors  joined  them 
in  making  search  for  the  lad.     After  wander- 
ing about  a  great  while,  they  at  length  saw 
smoke  rising  from   a  cabin  in   the   distance. 
Upon  reaching  it,  they  foimd  the  boy.    The 
floor  of  the  cabin  was  covered  with  the  skins 


6  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

oi  such  animals  as  he  had  slain,  and  pieces  of 
meat  were  roasting  before  the  foe  for  his 
supper.  Here,  at  a  distance  of  three  miles 
from  any  settlement,  he  had  built  his  cabin  of 
sods  and  branches  and  sheltered  himseK  in  the 
wilderness. 

"  It  was  while  his  father  was  living  on  the 
headwaters  of  the  Schuylkill  that  young  Boone 
received,  so  far  as  we  know,  all  his  education. 
Shoii)  indeed  were  his  schoolboy  days.  It 
happened  that  an  Irish  schoolmaster  strolled 
into  the  settlement,  and,  by  the  advice  of  Mr. 
Boone  and  other  parents,  opened  a  school  in 
the  neighborhood.  It  was  not  then  as  it  is 
now.  Good  schoolhouses  were  not  scattered 
over  the  land ;  nor  were  schoolmasters  always 
able  to  teach  their  pupils.  The  schoolhouse 
where  the  boys  of  this  settlement  went  was  a 
log-cabin,  built  in  the  midst  of  the  woods. 
The  schoolmaster  was  a  strange  man ;  some- 
times good-humored,  and  then  indulging  the 
lads ;  sometimes  surly  and  ill-natured,  and  then 
beating  them  severely.  It  was  his  usual 
custom,  after  hearing  the  first  lessons  of  the 


^  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  7 

morning,  to  allow  the  children  to  be  out  for 
a  Ivalf  hour  at  play,  during  which  time  he 
strolled  off  to  refresh  himself  from  his  labors. 
He  always  walked  in  the  same  direction,  and 
the  boys  thought  that  after  his  retui-n,  when 
they  were  called  in,  he  was  generally  more 
cimel  than  ever.  They  Avere  whipped  more 
severely,  and  oftentimes  without  any  cause. 
They  observed  this,  but  did  not  know  the 
meaning  of  it.  One  morning  young  Boone 
asked  that  he  might  go  out,  and  had  scarcely 
left  the  schooboom  when  he  saw  a  squirrel 
running  over  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree.  True 
to  his  natm'e,  he  instantly  gave  chase,  until  at 
last  the  squirrel  darted  into  a  bower  of  vines 
and  branches.  Boone  thrust  his  hand  in,  and, 
to  his  surprise,  laid  hold  of  a  bottle  of  whisky. 
This  was  in  the  dii^ection  of  his  master's  morn- 
ing walks,  and  he  thought  now  that  he  under- 
stood the  secret  of  much  of  his  ill-natuiu  He 
returned  to  the  schoolroom;  but,  when  they 
were  dismissed  for  that  day,  he  told  some  of  the 
larger  boys  of  his  discovery.  Their  plan  was 
soon  arranged.     Early  the  next  morning  a  bottle 


S  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

of  whisky,  lia\4ng  tartar  emetic  in  it,  was  placed 
in  tlie  bower  and  tlie  other  bottle  thrown  away. 
At  the  usual  hour,  the  lads  vrere  sent  out  to 
play,  and  the  master  started  on  his  walk.  But 
their  play  was  to  come  afterward ;  they  longed 
for  the  master  to  return.  At  length  they  were 
called  in,  and  in  a  little  time  saw  the  success  of 
their  experiment.  The  master  began  to  look 
pale  and  sick,  yet  still  went  on  TS'ith  his  work. 
Several  boys  were  called  up,  one  after  the 
other,  to  recite  lessons,  and  all  whipped  soundly, 
Avhether  right  or  wrong.  At  last  young  Boone 
was  called  out  to  answer  questions  in  aiith- 
metic.  He  came  forward  ^^-ith  his  slate  and 
pencil,  and  the  master  began.  "  If  you  subtract 
six  from  nine  what  remains  ? "  said  he.  "  Three, 
sir,"  said  Boone.  "  Very  good,"  said  the  master, 
"now  let  us  come  to  fractions.  If  you  take 
three-quarters  from  a  whole  number  what  re- 
mains?" The  whole,  sir,"  answered  Boone. 
"  You  blockhead  !  "  cried  the  master,  l>eatincj 
him  ;  "  you  stupid  little  fool,  ho^v  can  you  show 
that  ? "  "  If  I  take  one  bottle  of  whisky,"  said 
Boone,  "  and  put  in  its  place  another  in  wliicl^ 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  9 

I  have  mixed  an  emetic,  the  whole  mil  remain 
if  nobody  drinks  it ! "  The  Irishman,  dread- 
fully sick,  ^vas  now  doubly  enraged.  He  seized 
Boone,  and  commenced  beating  him ;  the  chil- 
dren shouted  and  roared ;  the  scuffle  continued 
until  Boone  knocked  the  master  down  upon 
the  floor,  and  rushed  out  of  the  room.  It  was 
a  day  of  freedom  now  for  the  lads.  The  story 
soon  ran  through  the  neighborhood ;  Boone  was 
rebuked  by  his  parents,  but  the  schoolmaster 
was  dismissed,  and  thus  ended  the  boy's  educa- 
tion. 

Thus  freed  from  school,  he  now  returned  more 
ardently  than  ever  to  his  favorite  pursuit.  His 
dog  and  rifle  were  his  constant  companions,  and 
day  after  day  he  started  from  home,  only  to 
roam  through  the  forests.  Hunting  seemed  to 
be  the  only  business  of  his  life  ;  and  he  was 
never  so  happy  as  when  at  night  he  came  home 
laden  with  game.  He  was  an  untiring  wan- 
derer." 

Perhaps  it  was  not  a  very  serious  misfortune 
for  Daniel  Boone  that  his  school  instruction  was 
so  S(\-inty,  for,   "  in  another  kind  of  education/' 


10  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

sajs  Mr.  Peck  *  "  not  unfrequent  in  the  wilds  of 
the  West,  he  was  an  adept.  No  Indian  could 
poise  the  rifle,  find  his  way  through  the  pathless 
forest,  or  search  out  the  retreats  of  game,  more 
readily  than  Daniel  Boone.  In  all  that  related 
to  Indian  sagacity,  border  life,  or  the  tactics  of 
the  skilful  hunter,  he  excelled.  The  success- 
ful training  of  a  hunter,  or  woodsman,  is  a  kind 
of  education  of  mental  discipline,  differing  from 
that  of  the  schoolroom,  but  not  less  effective  in 
giving  vigor  to  the  mind,  quickness  of  appre- 
hension, and  habits  of  close  observation.  Boone 
was  regularly  trained  in  all  that  made  him  a 
successful  backwoodsman.  Indolence  and  im- 
becility never  produced  a  Simon  Kenton,  a 
Tecumthe,  or  a  Daniel  Boone.  To  gain  the 
skill  of  an  accomplished  hunter  requires  talents, 
patience,  perseverance,  sagacity,  and  habits  of 
thinking.  Amongst  other  qualifications,  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature,  and  especially  of  Indian 
character  is  indispensable  to  the  pioneer  of  a 
wilderness.  Add  to  these,  self-possession,  self- 
eonttx)l^  and  promptness  in  execution.     Persons 

*  "  Life  of  Daniel  Boone."    By  John  M.  Peck. 


\  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  H 

who  ai^e  unaccustomed  to  a  frontier  residence 
know  not  how  much,  in  the  preservation  of  life, 
and  in  obtaining  subsistence,  depends  on  such 
chai'acteristics  ! " 

In  the  woods  siuTounding  the  little  settle- 
ment of  Exeter,  Boone  had  ample  opportunity 
for  perfecting  himself  in  this  species  of  mental 
discipline,  and  of  gaining  that  physical  training 
of  the  limbs  and  muscles  so  necessary  in  the 
pursuits  of  the  active  hunter  and  pioneer.  We 
have  no  record  of  his  ever  having  encountered 
the  Indians  during  his  residence  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  knowledge  of  their  peculiar  modes 
of  hunting  and  war  was  to  be  attained  not  less 
thoroughly  at  a  somewhat  later  period  of  life. 


CHAPTER  n. 

Removal  of  Boone's  father  and  family  to  North  Carolina- 
Location  on  the  Yadkin  River— Character  of  the  country 
and  the  people — Byron's  description  of  the  backwoodsman- 
Daniel  Boone  marries  Rebecca  Bryan— His  farmer  life  in 
North  Carolina — State  of  the  country — Political  troubles 
foreshadowed — Illegal  fees  and  taxes — Probable  effect  of 
this  state  of  things  on  Boone's  mind — Signs  of  movement. 

When  Daniel  Boone  was  still  a  youth,  his 
father  emigrated  to  North  Carolina.  The  pre- 
cise date  of  this  removal  of  the  family  residence 
is  not  known.  Mr.  Peck,  an  excellent  authority, 
says  it  took  place  when  Daniel  was  about  eight- 
een years  old.  This  would  make  it  about  the 
year  1752. 

The  new  residence  of  Squire  Boone,  Daniel's 
father,  was  near  Holman's  Ford,  on  the  Yadkin 
River,  about  eight  miles  from  Wilkesboro'. 
The  fact  of  the  great  backwoodsman  having 
passed  many  years  of  his  life  there  is  still  re- 
membered with  pride  by  the  inhabitants  of  that 

region.     The  capital  of  Watauga  County  which 
1^ 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  13 

was  formed  in  1849,  is  named  Boone,  in  honor 
of  Daniel  Boone.  The  historian  of  North  Car- 
olina  *  is  disposed  to  daim  him  as  a  son  of  the 
State.  He  says:  '^In  North  Carolina  Daniel 
Boone  was  reared.  Here  his  youthful  days 
were  spent;  and  here  that  bold  spirit  was 
trained,  which  so  fearlessly  encountered  the 
perils  through  ^hich  he  passed  in  after  life. 
His  fame  is  part  of  her  propei-ty,  and  she  has 
inscribed  his  name  on  a  town  in  the  region 
where  his  youth  was  spent." 

"  The  character  of  Boone  is  so  peculiar,"  says 
Mr.  "Wheeler,  ''that  it  marks  the  age  in  which 
he  lived  and  his  name  is  celebrated  in  the 
verses  of  the  immortal  Byron : 


(( < 


Of  all  men 

Who  passes  for  in  life  and  death  most  lucky, 
Of  the  great  names  which  in  om*  faces  stare, 
Is  Daniel  Boone,  backwoodsman  of  Kentucky. 

*  *  *  *       _ 
Crime  came  not  near  him— she  is  not  the  child 
Of  Solitude.    Health  shrank  not  from  him,  for 
Her  home  is  in  the  rarely-trodden  wild. 

*  *  *  * 

And  tall  and  strong  and  swift  of  foot  are  they, 
Beyond  the  dwariing  city's  pale  abortions, 

♦John  p.  Wheeler.  -  HistoricalSketches  of  North  Carolina, 


14  LIFE  .OF  DANIEL  BOOIS^. 

Because  their  thoughts  had  never  been  the  prey 
Of  care  or  gain  ;  the  green  woods  were  their  portions. 
No  sinking  spirits  told  them  they  grew  gray, 
No  fashions  made  tliem  apes  of  her  distortions. 
Simple  they  were,  not  savage  ;  and  their  rifles, 
Though  very  true,  were  not  yet  used  for  trifles. 

Motion  was  in  their  days,  rest  in  their  slumbers. 
And  cheerfulness  the  handmaid  of  their  toil. 
Not  yet  too  many  nor  too  few  their  numbers; 
Corruption  could  not  make  their  hearts  her  soil ; 
The  lust  which  stings,  the  splendor  which  encumbers. 
With  the  free  foresters  divide  no  spoil ; 
Serene,  not  sullen,  were  the  solitudes 
Of  this  unsighing  people  of  the  woods.'  " 

We  quote  these  beautiful  lines,  because  they 
so  aptly  and  forcibly  describe  the  peculiar 
character  of  Boone  ;  and  to  a  certain  extent,  as 
Mr.  Wheeler  intimates,  his  character  was  that 
of  his  times  and  of  his  associates. 

It  was  during  the  residence  of  the  family  on 
the  banks  of  the  Yadkin,  that  Boone  formed, 
the  acquaintance  of  Rebecca  Bryan,  whom  he 
married."^     The  marriage  appears,  by  compari- 

*  The  children  by  this  marriage  were  nine  in  number. 
Sons :  James,  born  in  1756,  Israel,  Jesse,  Daniel,  and  Nathan. 
Daughters :  Susan,  Jemima,  Lavinia,  and  Rebecca. 

The  eldest,  James,  was  killed,  as  will  appear  in  our  subse- 
quent narrative,  by  the  Indians,  in  1773  ;  and  Israel  fell  in  the 
battle  of  Blue  Licks,  May  17th,  1782.  In  1846,  Nathan,  a  cap- 
tain in  the  United  States  service,  was  the  only  sui'viving  son. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  15 

son  of  dates,  to  have  taken  place  in  the  year 
1755.  "  One  almost  regrets,"  says  Mr.  Peck, 
"  to  spoil  so  beautiful  a  romance  as  that  which 
has  had  such  extensive  circulation  in  the  vari- 
ous 'Lives  of  Boone,'  and  which  represents 
him  as  mistaking  the  bright  eyes  of  this  young 
lady,  in  the  dark,  for  those  of  a  deer ;  a  mistake 
that  nearly  proved  fatal  from  the  unerring  rifle 
of  the  young  hunter.  Yet,  in  truth,  we  are 
bound  to  say,  that  no  such  mistake  ever  hap- 
pened. Our  backwoods  swains  never  make 
such  mistakes." 

The  next  five  years  after  his  mamage,  Daniel 
Boone  passed  in  the  quiet  pursuits  of  a  farmer's 
life,  varied  occasionally  by  hunting  excursions 
in  the  woods.  The  most  quiet  and  careless  of 
the  citizens  of  North  Carolina  were  not  unob- 
servant, however,  of  the  political  aspect  of  the 
times.  During  this  period  the  people,  by  their 
representatives  in  the  Legislature,  began  that 
opposition  to  the  Koyal  authority,  which  was  in 
after  years  to  signalize  North  Carolina  as  one 
of  the  leading  Colonies  in  the  Revolutionary 
struggle. 


16  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

The  newly-appointed  Royal  Governor,  Ar* 
thur  Dobbs,  arrived  at  iSTewbern  in  the  autumn 
of  1754.  "  Grover nor  Dobbs'  administration  of 
ten  years,"  says  the  historian  Wheeler,  "  was  a 
continued  contest  between  himself  and  the 
Legislature,  on  matters  frivolous  and  unimpor- 
tant. A  high-toned  temper  for  Royal  preroga- 
tives on  his  part,  and  an  indomitable  resistance 
of  the  Colonists.  ^  ^  ^  ^  The  people 
were  much  oppressed  by  Lord  Grenville's 
agents.  They  seized  Corbin,  his  agent,  who 
lived  below  Edenton,  and  brought  him  to  En- 
field, where  he  was  compelled  to  give  bond  and 
security  to  produce  his  books  and  disgorge  his 
illefical  fees." 

This  matter  of  illegal  fees  was  pai-t  of  a  sys- 
tem of  oppression,  kindred  to  the  famous  Stamp 
Act — a  system  which  was  destined  to  grow 
more  and  more  intolerable  imder  Governor 
Tryon's  administration,  and  to  lead  to  the  ior- 
mation  of  the  famous  company  of  Regulators, 
whose  resistance  of  taxation  and  tyranny  was 
soon  to  convulse  the  whole  State. 

We  are  by  no  means  to  suppose  that  Daniel 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  17 

Boone  was  aii  unobservant  spectator  of  what 
was  passing  even  at  the  time  we  are  speaking 
of,  nor  that  the  doings  of  the  tax-gatherers  had 
nothing  to  do  with  his  subsequent  movements. 
He  not  only  hated  oppression,  but  he  hated  also 
strife  and  disturbance ;  and  already  began  to 
long  for  a  new  migration  into  the  distant  woods 
and  quiet  intervales,  where  politics  and  the  tax- 
gatherer  should  not  intrude. 

The  population  in  his  neighborhood  was  in- 
creasing, and  new  settlements  were  being  formed 
along  the  Yadkin  and  its  tributary  streams,  and 
explorations  w^ere  made  to  the  northwest  on  the 
banks  of  the  Holston  and  Clinch  rivers.  The 
times  were  already  beginning  to  exhibit  symp- 
toms of  restlessness  and  stir  among  the  people, 
which  was  soon  to  result  in  the  formation  of 
new  States  and  the  settlement  of  the  far  West. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Seven  Years'  War — Cherokee  war — Period  of  Boone*s  first 
long  excursion  to  the  West — Extract  from  Wheeler's  His- 
tory of  Tennessee — Indian  accounts  of  the  western  country — 
Indian  traders — Their  reports — Western  travelers — Doherty 
— Adair — Proceedings  of  the  traders — Hunters — Scotch 
traders — Hunters  accompany  the  traders  to  the  West — 
Their  reports  concerning  the  country — Other  adventurers — 
Dr.  Walker's  expedition — Settlements  in  Southwestern 
Virginia  —  Indian  hostilities — Pendleton  purchase  —  Dr. 
Walker's  second  expedition — Hunting  company  of  Walker 
and  others — Boone  travels  with  them — Curious  monimaent 
left  by  him. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  the  period  re- 
ferred to  in  the  last  chapter  comprehended  the 
latter  years  of  the  celebrated  Seven  Years'  War, 
During  the  chief  portion  of  this  period,  the 
neighboring  Colony  of  Virginia  suffered  all  the 
horrors  of  Indian  war  on  its  western  frontier — 
horrors  from  which  even  the  ability,  courage, 
and  patriotism  of  Washington  were  fox  a  long 
time  unable   to   protect  them.     The   war  was 

virtually  terminated  by  the  campaign  of  1759, 
18 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  19 

when  Quebec  was  taken.  The  next  year  Canada 
was  ceded  to  England ;  and  a  Cherokee  war, 
which  had  disturbed  the  border  settlers  of  North 
Carolina,  was  terminated.  Daniel  Boone's  biog- 
raphers  all  agree  that  it  was  about  this  time 
when  he  fii-st  began  to  make  long  excursions 
toward  the  West ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  fix  exactly 
the  date  of  his  first  long  journey  through  the 
woods  in  this  direction.  It  is  generally  dated 
in  1771  or  1772.  We  now  make  a  quotation 
from  Eamsay's  Annals  of  Tennessee,  which 
shows,  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  that 
he  hunted  on  the  Wataga  River  in  1760,  and 
renders  it  probable  that  he  was  in  the  West  at 
an  earlier  date.  Our  readers  will  excuse  the 
length  of  this  quotation,  as  the  first  part  of  it 
gives  so  graphic  a  picture  of  the  hunter  and 
pioneer  life  of  the  times  of  Daniel  Boone,  and 
also  shows  what  had  been  done  by  others  in 
western  explorations  before  Boone's  expeditions, 
commenced. 

"  The  Colonists  of  the  Carolinas  and  of  Yir 
ginia  had  been  steadily  advancing  to  the  AVest, 
and  we  have  traced  their  approaches  in  the  direc- 


20  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tion  of  our  eastern  boundaiy,*  to  tlie  base  of 
the  great  Appalachian  range. 

"  Of  the  country  beyond  it,  little  was  positively 
known  or  accurately  understood.  A  wandering 
Indian  would  imperfectly  delineate  upon  the 
sand,  a  feeble  outline  of  its  more  prominent 
pHysical  features — ^its  magnificent  rivers,  with 
their  numerous  tributaries — its  lofty  mountains, 
its  dark  forests,  its  extended  plains  and  its  vast 
extent.  A  voyage  in  a  canoe,  from  the  source 
of  the  Hogohegee  f  to  the  Wabash,  J  required 
for  its  performance,  in  their  figurative  language, 
"  two  paddles,  two  warriors,  three  moons."  The 
Ohio  itself  was  but  a  tributary  of  a  still  larger 
river,  of  whose  source,  size  and  direction,  no  in- 
telligible account  could  be  communicated  or 
understood.  The  Muscle  Shoals  and  the  ob- 
structions in  the  river  above  them,  were  i^epre- 
sented  as  mighty  cataracts  and  fearful  whirl- 
pools, and  the  Suck,  as  an  awful  vortex.  The 
wild  beasts  with  which  the  illimitable  forests 

*  That  is,  the  eastern  boundary  of  Tennessee,  which  was 
then  a  part  of  North  Carolina, 
f  Holston. 
X  The  Ohio  was  known  many  yeai's  by  this  name. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  21 

abounded,  were  numbered  by  pointing  to  the 
leaves  upon  the  trees,  or  the  stars  in  a  cloudless 
sky. 

"These  glomng  descriptions  of  the  West 
seemed  rather  to  stimulate  than  to  satisfy  the 
intense  curiosity  of  the  approaching  settlers. 
Information  more  reliable,  and  more  minute, 
was,  from  time  to  time,  furnished  from  other 
sources.  In  the  Atlantic  cities  accounts  had 
been  received  from  French  and  Spanish  traders, 
of  the  unparalleled  beauty  and  fertility  of  the 
western  interior.  These  reports,  highly  colored 
and  amplified,  were  soon  received  and  known 
upon  the  frontier.  Besides,  persons  engaged  in 
the  interior  traffic  with  the  south-western  Indian 
tribes  had,  in  times  of  peace,  penetrated  their 
territories — traded  with  and  resided  amongst 
the  natives — and  upon  their  return  to  the  white 
settlements,  confirmed  what  had  been  previously 
reported  in  favor  of  the  distant  countries  they 
had  seen.  As  early  as  1690,  Doherty,  a  trader 
from  Virginia,  had  Hsited  the  Cherokees  and 
after^vard  lived  among  them  a  number  of 
years.     In  1730,  Adair,  from  South  Carolina, 


22  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

had  traveled,  not  only  tlirough  tlie  towns  of 
this  tribe,  but  had  extended  his  tour  to  most  of 
the  nations  south  and  west  of  them.  He  was 
not  only  an  entei-prising  trader  but  an  intelli- 
gent tourist.  To  his  observations  upon  the  sev- 
eral tribes  which  he  visited,  we  are  indebted 
for  most  that  is  known  of  their  earlier  histor)^ 
They  were  published  in  London  in  1775. 

"  In  1740  other  traders  went  among  the 
Cherokees  from  Virginia.  They  employed  Mr. 
Vaughan  as  a  packman,  to  transport  their  goods. 
West  of  Amelia  County,  the  coimtry  was  then 
thinly  inhabited ;  the  last  hunter's  cabin  that 
he  saw  was  on  Otter  Eiver,  a  branch  of  the 
Staunton,  now  in  Bedford  County,  Va.  The 
route  piu'sued  was  along  the  Great  Path  to  the 
center  of  the  Cherokee  nation.  The  traders 
and  packmen  generally  confined  themselves  to 
this  path  till  it  crossed  the  Little  Tennessee 
River,  then  spreading  themselves  out  among  the 
several  Cherokee  villages  west  of  the  mountain, 
continued  their  traffic  as  low  down  the  Great 
Tennessee  as  the  Indian  settlements  upon 
Occochappo  or  Bear  Creek,  below  the  Muscle 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  23 

Shoals,  and  there  encountered  the  competition 
of  other  traders,  who  were  supplied  from  New 
Orleans  and  Mobile.  They  returned,  heavily 
laden  with  peltries,  to  Charleston,  or  the  more 
northern  markets,  where  they  were  sold  at 
highly  remunerating  prices.  A  hatchet,  a 
pocket  looking-glass,  a  piece  of  scarlet  cloth,  a 
trinket,  and  other  articles  of  little  value,  which 
at  Williamsburg  could  be  bought  for  a  few 
shillings,  would  command  from  an  Indian  hunter 
on  the  Hiwasse  or  Tennessee  peltries  amounting 
in  value  to  double  the  number  of  pounds  ster- 
ling. Exchanges  were  necessaiily  slow,  but  the 
profits  realized  from  the  operation  were  im- 
mensely large.  In  times  of  peace  this  traffic 
attracted  the  attention  of  many  adventurous 
traders.  It  became  mutually  advantageous  to 
the  Indian  not  less  than  to  the  white  man. 
The  trap  and  the  rifle,  thus  bartered  for,  pro- 
cured, in  one  day,  more  game  to  the  Cherokee 
hunter  than  his  bow  and  arrow  and  his  dead-fall 
would  have  secured  during  a  month  of  toilsome 
hunting.  Other  advantages  resulted  from  it  to 
the  whites.     They  became  thus  acquainted  with 


24  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tlie  great  avenues  leading  througli  the  hunting 
grounds  and  to  the  occupied  country  of  the 
neighboring  tribes — an  important  circumstance 
in  the  condition  of  either  war  or  peace.  Fur- 
ther, the  traders  were  an  exact  thermometer  of 
the  pacific  or  hostile  intention  and  feelings  of 
the  Indians  with  whom  they  traded.  Gener- 
ally, they  were  foreigners,  most  frequently 
Scotchmen,  who  had  not  been  long  in  the 
country,  or  upon  the  frontier,  who,  ha^dng  ex- 
perienced none  of  the  cruelties,  depredations  or 
aggressions  of  the  Indians,  cherished  none  of  the 
resentment  and  spirit  of  retaliation  born  with, 
and  everywhere  manifested  by,  the  American 
settler.  Thus,  free  from  animosity  against  the 
aborigines,  the  trader  was  allowed  to  remain  in 
the  village  where  he  traded  unmolested,  even 
when  its  warriors  were  singing  the  w^ai^  song 
or  brandishing  the  war  club,  preparatory  to  an 
invasion  or  massacre  of  the  whites.  Timely 
warning  was  thus  often  given,  by  a  returning 
packman  to  a  feeble  and  unsuspecting  settle- 
ment, of  the  perfidy  and  cruelty  meditated 
against  it 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  25 

"  This  gainful  commerce  was,  for  a  time,  en- 
grossed by  the  traders ;  but  the  monopoly  was 
not  allowed  to  continue  long.  Their  rapid  ac- 
cumulations soon  excited  the  cupidity  of  another 
class  of  adventurers ;  and  the  hunter,  in  his  turn, 
became  a  co-pioneer  with  the  trader,  in  the 
march  of  civilization  to  the  wilds  of  the  West. 
As  the  agricultural  population  approached  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Alleghanies,  the  game  became 
scarce,  and  was  to  be  found  by  severe  toil  in 
almost  inaccessible  recesses  and  coves  of  the 
mountain.  Packmen,  returning  from  their  trad- 
ing expeditions,  carried  with  them  evidences, 
not  only  of  the  abundance  of  game  across 
the  mountains,  but  of  the  facility  with  which 
it  was  procui^ed.  Hunters  began  to  accompany 
the  traders  to  the  Indian  towns  ;  but,  unable  to 
brook  the  tedious  delay  of  procuring  peltries 
by  traffic,  and  impatient  of  restraint,  they  struck 
boldly  into  the  wilderness  and  western-like,  to 
use  a  western  phrase,  set  up  for  themselves. 
The  reports  of  their  return,  and  of  their  success- 
ful enterprise,  stimulated  other  adventurers  to 
a  similar  undertaking.       'As    early   as   1748 


20  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Doctor  Thomas  Walker,  of  Vii'ginia,  in  company 
with  Colonels  Wood,  Patton  and  Buchanan,  and 
Captain  Chai'les  Campbell,  and  a  number  of 
hunters,  made  an  exploring  tour  upon  the  west- 
em  waters.  Passing  Powell's  valley,  he  gave 
the  name  of  "  Cumberland  "  to  the  lofty  range  of 
mountains  on  the  west.  Tracing  this  range  in 
a  southwestern  direction,  he  came  to  a  remark- 
able depression  in  the  chain :  thi'ough  this  he 
passed,  calling  it  "  Cumberland  Gap."  On  the 
western  side  of  the  range  he  found  a  beautiful 
mountain  stream,  which  he  named  "  Cumberland 
Elver,"  all  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland, 
then  prime  minister  of  England.'  ^  These  names 
have  ever  since  been  retained,  and,  with  Lou- 
don, are  believed  to  be  the  only  names  in  Ten- 
nessee of  English  origin. 

"  xllthough  Foii}  Loudon  was  erected  as  early 
as  1756  upon  the  Tennessee,  yet  it  was  in  ad- 
vance of  any  white  settlements  nearly  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles,  and  was  destroyed  in  1760. 
The  fort,  too,  at  Long  Island,  within  the  bound- 

*  Monette.    The  Indian  name  of  this  range  was  Wasioto, 
and  of  the  river,  Shawnee. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  27 

aries  of  the  present  State  of  Tennessee,  were 
erected  in  1758,  but  no  permanent  settle- 
ments had  yet  been  foiTaed  near  it.  Still  occa- 
sional settlers  liad  bejjrun  to  ^x  their  habitations 
in  the  southwestern  section  of  Virginia,  and  as 
early  as  1754,  six  families  were  residing  west  of 
New  Eiver.  '  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  French 
war,  the  Indians,  in  alliance  mth  the  French, 
made  an  irruption  into  these  settlements,  and 
massacred  Burke  and  his  family.  The  other 
families,  finding  their  situation  too  perilous  to 
be  maintained,  retui'ned  to  the  eastern  side  of 
New  River;  and  the  renewal  of  the  attempt 
to  carry  the  white  settlements  further  west 
was    not  made   until  after  the   close   of  that 


war.' 


"  Under  a  mistaken  impression  that  the  Vir- 
( p-inia  line,  when  extended  west,  would  em- 
( brace  it,  a  grant  of  land  was  this  year  made, 
by  the  authorities  of  Virginia,  to  Edmund 
Pendleton,  for  three  thousand  acres  of  land, 
lying  in  Augusta  County  on  a  branch  of 
the   middle  fork   of    the  Indian   river  called 

♦  Howe. 


28  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

West    Creek,*   now   Sullivan   County,  Tennes- 
see. 

"  In  this  year  Doctor  Walker  again  passed  over 
( Clinch  and  Powell's  River,  on  a  tour  of  ex- 
( ploration  into  what  is  now  Kentucky. 
"  The  Cherokees  were  now  at  peace  wiih.  the 
whites  and  hunters  from  the  back  settlements 
began  ^\'ith  safety  to  penetrate  deeper  and  fur- 
ther   into    the    wilderness   of    Tennessee. 


1  "Tfil 

'Several  of  them,  chiefly  from  Virginia, 
hearing  of  the  abundance  of  game  with  which 
the  woods  were  stocked,  and  allured  by  the 
prospects  of  gain,  which  might  be  drawn  from 
this  source,  formed  themselves  into  a  company, 
composed  of  AVallen,  Scaggs,  Blevins,  Cox,  and 
fifteen  others,  and  came  into  the  valley  since 
known  as  Carter's  Valley,  in  Hawkins  County, 
Tennessee.  They  hunted  eighteen  months  upon 
Clinch  and  Powell's  Rivers.  Wallen's  Creek 
and  Wallen's  Ridge  received  their  name  from 
the  leader  of  the   company ;  as  also   did  the 

*  The  original  patent,  signed  by  Governor  Diuwiddie,  and 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  writer,  was  presented  to  him  by 
T.  A.  R.  Nelson,  Esq.,  of  Jonesboro,  Tennessee.  It  is  prob* 
ably  the  oldest  grant  in  the  state. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  20 

station  which  they  erected  iu  the  present  Lee 
County,  Virginia,  the  name  of  Wallen's  station. 
They  penetrated  as  far  north  as  Laurel  Moun- 
tain, in  Kentucky,  where  they  tenninated  their 
journey,  having  met  with  a  body  of  Indians, 
whom  they  supposed  to  be  Shawnees.  At  the 
head  of  one  of  the  companies  that  visited  the 
West  this  year  '  came  Daniel  Boon,  from  the 
Yadkin,  in  North  Carolina,  and  traveled  with 
them  as  low  as  the  place  where  Abingdon  now 
stands,  and  there  left  them.' 

"  This  is  the  first  time  the  advent  of  Daniel 
Boon  to  the  western  wilds  has  been  mentioned 
by  historians,  or  by  the  several  biographers  of 
that  distinguished  pioneer  and  hunter.  There 
is  reason,  however,  to  believe  that  he  had  hunt«d 
upon  Watauga  earlier.  The  writer  is  indebted 
to  N.  Gammon,  Esq.,  formerly  of  Jonesboro, 
now  a  citizen  of  Knoxville,  for  tlie  following 
inscription,  still  to  be  seen  upon  a  beech  tree, 
standing  in  sight  and  east  of  the  present  stage- 
road,  leading  from  Jonesboro  to  Blountsville, 
and  in  the  valley  of  Boon's  Creek,  a  tributary 
of  Watauga : 


30  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

D,  Boon 
aUED  A,  BAR  On 

Tre& 
in  TIiE 

yEAE 

1760 

"Boon  was  eighty-six  yeai's  old  when  Le 
died,  which  was  September,  1820.  He  was 
thus  twenty-six  years  old  when  the  inscription 
was  made.  "When  he  left  the  company  of 
huntere  in  1761,  as  mentioned  above  by  Hay- 
wood, it  is  probable  that  he  did  so  to  re\dsit 
the  theater  of  a  former  hunt  upon  the  creek 
that  still  bears  his  name,  and  where  his  camp  is 
still  pointed  out  near  its  banks.  It  is  not  im- 
probable, indeed,  that  he  belonged  to,  or  ac- 
companied, the  party  of  Doctor  Walker,  on  his 
first,  or  certainly  on  his  second,  tour  of  explora- 
tion in  1760.  The  inscription  is  sufficient  au- 
thority, as  this  writer  conceives,  to  date  the 
arrival  of  Boon  in  Tennessee  as  early  as  its 
date,  1760  thus  preceding  the  permanent  settle- 
ment of  the  country  nearly  ten  years." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  historian  in  this 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  gj 

extract  spells  Boon  without  the  final  e,  follow- 
ing  the  orthography  of  the  hunter,  in  his  in- 
scription  on  the  tree.  This  oi^thography  Boone 
used  at  a  later  period,  as  we  shall  show.  But 
the  present  received  mode  of  spelling  the  name 
is  the  one  which  we  have  adopted  in  this  work. 
On  a  subsequent  page  of  Wheeler's  history, 
we  find  the  f  ollomng  memorandum  : 

"  Daniel  Boon,  who  still  lived  on  the  Yadkin, 
though  he  had  previously  hunted  on  the  West- 
em  waters,  came  again  this  year  to  explore  the 
country,  being  employed  for  this  purpose  by 
Henderson    &   Company.      With     him    came 
Samuel  Callaway,  his  kinsman,  and  the  ancestor 
of  the  respectable  family  of  that  name,  pioneers 
of  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Missouri.    Callaway 
was  at  the  side  of  Boon  when  approaching  the 
spurs  of  the  Cumberland  Mountain,  and  in  view 
of  the  vast  herds  of  buffalo  grazing  in  the  valleys 
between  them,  he  exclaimed,  "  I  am  richer  than 
the   man  mentioned  in  Scripture,  who  owned 
the  cattle  on  a  thousand  hills ;  I  own  the  wild 
beasts  of  more  than  a  thousand  valleys." 
After  Boone   and   Callaway,  came   another 


32  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

hunter,  Henry  Scaggins,  who  was  also  employed 
by  Henderson.  He  extended  his  explorations 
to  the  Lower  Cumberland,  and  fixed  his  station 
at  Mansco's  Lick. 

We  shall  have  occasion  to  speak  more  par- 
ticularly of  Henderson's  company  and  Boone's 
connection  with  it ;  but  we  will  first  call  the 
reader's  attention  to  the  state  of  aif  airs  in  North 
Carolina  at  this  period,  and  their  probable  in- 
fliience  on  the  course  pursued  by  Daniel  Boone. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Political  and  social  condition  of  North  Carolina— Taxes-Law 
suits— Ostentation  and  extravagance  of  foreigners  and  gov- 
ernment officers— Oppression  of  the  people— Murmurs- 
Open  resistance-The  Regulators-Willingness  of  Daniel 
Boone  and  others  to  migrate,  and  their  reasons— John 
Finley's  expedition  to  the  West— His  report  to  Boone— He 
determines  to  join  Finley  in  his  next  hunting  tour-New 
company  formed,  with  Boone  for  leader-Preparations  for 
starting-The  party  sets  out-Travels  for  a  month  through 
the  wilderness-First  sight  of  Kentucky-Formmg  a  camp 
-Hunting  buffaloes  and  other  game-Capture  of  Boone  and 
Stuart  by  the  Indians-Prudent  dissimulation -Escape  from 
the  Indians-Return  to  the  old  camp-Their  companions 
lost— Boone  and  Stuart  renew  their  hunting. 

There  were  many  circumstances  in  the  social 
and  political  condition  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  during  the  period  of  Daniel  Boone's 
residence  on  the  banks  of  the  Yadkin,  which 
were  calculated  to  render  him  restless  and 
quite  willing  to  seek  a  home  in  the  Western 
wilderness.  Customs  and  fashions  were  chang- 
ing.     The  Scotch  tradei-s,  to  whom  we  have 


84  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

referred  in  the  last  chapter,  and  others  of  the 
same  class,  were  introducing  an  ostentatious 
and  expensive  style  of  living,  quite  inappro- 
priate to  the  rural  population  of  the  colony. 
In  dress  and  equipage,  they  far  surpassed  the 
farmers  and  planters ;  and  they  were  not  back- 
ward in  taking  upon  themselves  airs  of  superi- 
ority on  this  account.  In  this  they  were  imitated 
by  the  officers  and  agents  of  the  Royal  govern- 
ment of  the  colony,  who  were  not  less  fond  of 
luxury  and  show.  To  support  their  extrava- 
gant style  of  living  these  minions  of  power, 
magistrates,  lawyers,  clerks  of  court,  and  tax- 
gatherers,  demanded  exorbitant  fees  for  their 
services.  The  Episcopal  clergy,  supported  by 
a  legalized  tax  on  the  people,  were  not  content 
A^dth  their  salaries,  but  charged  enormous  fees 
for  the  occasional  sendees.  A  fee  of  fifteen 
dollars  was  exacted  from  the  poor  farmer  for 
performing  the  marriage  ser\dce.  The  collec- 
tion of  taxes  was  enforced  by  suits  at  law,  with 
enormous  expense ;  and  executions,  levies,  and 
distresses  were  of  every-day  occurrence.  All 
sums   exceeding  forty  shillings  were  sued  for 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  35 

and  executions  obtained  in  the  courts,  tlie  origi- 
nal debt  being  saddled  vdih  extortionate  bills 
of  cost.  Sheriffs  demanded  more  than  was  due, 
under  threats  of  sheriff's  sales  ;  and  they  applied 
the  gains  thus  made  to  their  own  use.  Money, 
as  is  always  the  ease  in  a  new  country,  Avas  ex- 
ceedingly scarce,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  people 
were  intolerable. 

Petitions  to  the  Legislature  for  a  redress  of 
o-rievances  w^ere  treated  w^ith  contempt.      The 
people  assembled  and  formed  themselves  into 
an  association  for  regulating  public  grievances 
and  abuse  of  power.     Hence  the  name  given  to 
them   of  Eegulators.     They  resolved  "to  pay 
only  such  taxes  as  were  agreeable  to  law  and 
applied  to  the  purpose  therein  named,  to  pay 
no  officer  more  than  his  legal  fees."     The  sub- 
sequent  proceedings  of  the  Eegulators,  such  as 
forcible  resistance   to  officers  and  acts  of  per- 
sonal  violence  toward  them,  at  length  brought  on 
an  actual  collision  between  them  and  an  anned 
force  led  by  the  Royal  Governor,  Tryon  (May 
16,  1771,)  at  Alamanance,  in  which  the  Regula- 
tors were  defeated ;  and  the  grievances  con- 


36  LXl  E  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tinued  witli  scarcely  abated  force  till  the  Revolu- 
tion brought  relief. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  not  surpris 
ing  that  Daniel  Boone  and  others  were  quite 
willing  to  migrate  to  the  West,  if  it  Avere  only 
to  enjoy  a  quiet  life  ;  the  dangers  of  Indian  ag- 
gression being  less  dreaded  than  the  visits  of 
the  tax-gatherer  and  the  sheriff ;  and  the  solitude 
of  the  forest  and  prairie  being  preferred  to  the 
society  of  insolent  foreigners,  flaunting  in  the 
luxury  and  ostentation  purchased  by  the  spoils 
of  fi'aud  and  oppression. 

Among  the  hunters  and  traders  who  pursued 
their  avocations  in  the  Western  wilds  was  John 
Finley,  or  Findley,  who  led  a  party  of  hunters 
in  1767  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Louisa 
River,  as  the  Kentucky  River  was  then  called, 
and  spent  the  season  in  hunting  and  trapping. 
On  his  return,  he  visited  Daniel  Boone,  and 
gave  him  a  most  glowing  description  of  the 
country  which  he  had  visited — a  country  abound- 
ing in  the  richest  and  most  fertile  land,  inter- 
sected by  noble  rivers,  and  teeming  with  herds 
of  deer  and  buffaloes  and  numerous  flocks  of 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  37 

wild  tui'keys,  to  say  nothing  of  the  smaller 
game.  To  these  descriptions  Boone  lent  a  will- 
ing ear.  He  resolved  to  accompany  Fiuley  in 
his  next  hunting  expedition,  and  to  see  this  ter- 
restrial paradise  with  his  own  eyes,  doubtless 
with  the  intention  of  ultimately  seeking  a  home 
in  that  delightful  region. 

Accordingly,  a  company  of  six  persons  was 
formed  for  a  new  expedition  to  the  West, 
and  Boone  was  chosen  as  leader.  The  names 
of  the  other  members  of  this  party  were  John 
Finley,  John  Stuart,  Joseph  Holden,  James 
Moncey,  and  William  Cool. 

Much  preparation  seems  to  have  been  required. 
Boone's  wife,  who  was  one  of  the  best  of  house- 
keepers and  managers,  had  to  fit  out  his  clothes, 
and  to  make  arrangements  for  housekeeping 
during  his  expected  long  absence.  His  sons 
were  now  old  enough  to  assist  their  mother  in 
the  management  of  the  farm,  but,  doubtless, 
they  had  to  be  supplied  wdth  money  and  other 
necessaries  before  the  father  could  venture  to 
leave  home ;  so  that  it  was  not  till  the  1st  of 
May,  1769,  that  the  party  were  able  to  set  out. 


38  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

as  Boone,  in  his  autobiography,  expresses  it,  "in 
qneat  of  the  country  of  Kentucky." 

It  was  more  than  a  month  before  these  ad- 
ventm^ers  came  in  sight  of  the  promised  land. 
We  quote  from  Mr.  Peck's  excellent  work  the 
description  which  undoubtedly  formed  the  au- 
thority on  which  the  artist  has  relied  in  paint- 
ing the  accompanying  engraving  of  "Daniel 
Boone's  first  view  of  Kentucky."  It  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  It  was  on  the  7th  of  June,  1769,  that  six 
men,  weary  and  wayworn,  were  seen  winding 
their  way  up  the  steep  side  of  a  rugged  moun- 
tain in  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky.  Their 
dress  was  of  the  description  usually  worn  at 
that  period  by  all  forest  rangers.  The  outside 
garment  was  a  Iiimting  shii't,  or  loose  open 
frock,  made  of  dressed  deer  skins.  Leggings  or 
drawers,  of  the  same  material,  covered  the  lower 
extremities,  to  which  was  appended  a  pair  of 
moccasins  for  the  feet.  The  cape  or  collar  of 
the  hunting  shirt,  and  the  seams  of  the  leg- 
gings, were  adorned  with  fringes.  The  under 
garments  were  of  coarse  cotton.    A  leather  belt 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE*  39 

encircled  tlie  body ;  on  the  right  Bide  waf5  sus- 
pended the  tomahawk,  to  be  used  as  a  hatchet ; 
on  the  left  side  was  the  hunting-knife,  powder- 
horn,  bullet-pcuch,  and  other  appendages   in- 
dispensable  for  a  hunter.     Each  person  bore  his 
trusty  rifle  ;  and,  as  the  party  slowly  made  their 
toilsome  way  amid  the  shrubs,  and  over  the  logs 
and  loose  rocks  that  accident  had  thro^vn  into 
the  obscure  trail  which  they   were  following, 
each   man   kept   a  sharp   look-out,  as   though 
danger  or  a  lurking  enemy   was  near.     Their 
garments  were  soiled  and  rent,  the  unavoidable 
result  of   long  traveling  and  exposure  to  the 
heavy  rains  that  had  fallen;  for  the  weather 
had  been  stoiTuy  and  most  uncomfortable,  and 
they  had  traversed  a  mountainous  wilderness  for 
several  hundred  miles.     The  leader  of  the  party 
was  of  full  size,  with  a  hardy,  robust,  sinewy 
frame,  and  keen,  piercing  hazel  eyes,  that  glanced 
with  quickness  at  every  object  as  they  passed 
on,  now  cast  forward  in  the  direction  they  were 
traveling  for  signs  of  an  old  trail,  and  in  the 
next  moment  directed  askance  into  the  dense 
thicket,  or  into  the  deep  ravine,  as  if  watching 


40  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

some  concealed  enemy.  The  reader  will  recog- 
nize in  this  man  the  pioneer  Boone,  at  the  head 
of  his  companions. 

"  Toward  the  time  of  the  setting  sun,  the  party 
had  reached  the  summit  of  the  mountain  range, 
up  which  they  had  toiled  for  some  three  or  four 
hours,  and  which  had  bounded  their  j)rospect  to 
the  west  during  the  day.  Here  new  and  in- 
describable scenery  opened  to  their  view.  Be- 
fore them,  for  an  immense  distance,  as  if  spread 
out  on  a  map,  lay  the  rich  and  beautiful  vales 
^vatered  by  the  Kentucky  River ;  for  they  had 
now  reached  one  of  its  northern  branches.  The 
country  immediately  before  them,  to  use  a 
Western  phrase,  was  '  rolling,'  and,  in  places, 
abruptly  hilly  ;  l^ut  far  in  the  vista  was  seen  a 
beautifid  expanse  of  le^el  country,  over  Avhich 
the  buffalo,  deer,  and  other  forest  animals 
roamed  unmolested  while  they  fed  on  the  lux- 
uriant herbage  of  the  forest.  The  countenances 
of  the  party  lighted  up  with  pleasure,  congratu- 
lations Avere  exchanged,  the  romantic  tales  of 
Finley  Avere  confirmed  by  ocular  demonstration, 
and  orders  Avere  given  to  encamp  for  the  night 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  41 

in  a  neighboring  ravine.  In  a  deep  gorge  of  the 
mountain  a  large  tree  had  fallen,  surrounded 
with  a  dense  thicket,  and  hidden  from  observa- 
tion by  the  abrupt  and  precipitous  hills.  Thig 
tree  lay  in  a  convenient  position  for  the  back  of 
their  camp.  Logs  were  placed  on  the  right  and 
left,  leaving  the  front  open,  where  fire  might  be 
kindled  against  another  log;  and  for  shelter 
from  the  rains  and  heavy  dews,  bark  was  peeled 
from  the  linden  trees." 

This  rude  structure  appears  to  have  been  the 
headquarters  of  the  hunters  through  the  whole 
siunmer  and  autumn,  till  late  in  December. 
During  this  time  they  hunted  the  deer,  the  bear, 
and  especially  the  buifalo.  The  buffaloes  w^ere 
found  in  great  numbers,  feeding  on  the  leaves 
of  the  cane,  and  the  lich  and  spontaneous  fields 
of  clover. 

During  this  long  period  they  saw  no  Indians. 
That  part  of  the  country  was  not  inhabited  by 
any  tribe  at  that  time,  although  it  was  used 
occasionally  as  a  hunting  ground  by  the  Shaw- 
anese,  the  Cherokees  and  the  Chickesaws.  The 
land  at  that  time  belonged  to  the  colony  of 


42  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Virginia,  ^vliicli  then  included  whac  is  n'^w 
called  Kentucky.  The  title  to  the  ground  was 
acquired  by  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  Oct,  5th, 
1770.  The  Iroquois,  at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stan- 
\vix,  in  1768,  had  already  ceded  their  doubtful 
claim  to  the  land  south  of  the  Ohio  Eiver, 
to  Great  Britain ;  so  that  Boone's  company 
of  hunters  were  not  trespassing  upon  Indian 
territory  at  this  time.*  But  they  were  des- 
tined nevertheless  to  be  treated  as  intru- 
ders. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  Boone  and  John 
Stuart,  one  of  his  companions,  left  their  encamp- 
ment, and  follo\Ying  one  of  the  numerous  paths 
which  the  buffalo  had  made  through  the  cane, 
they  plunged  boldly  into  the  interior  of  the 
forest.  They  had  as  yet,  as  vre  have  already 
stated,  seen  no  Indians,  and  the  country  had 
been  reported  as  totally  uninhabited.  This  was 
true  in  a  strict  sense,  for  although,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  southern  and  northwestern  tribes  were 
in  the  habit  of  hunting  here  as  upon  neutral 
ground,  yet  not   a  single  wigwam  had   been 

*  Peck,    Life  of  Boone. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  43 

erected,  nor  did  tlie  land  bear  tlie  slightest 
mark  of  having  ever  been  cultivated. 

The  different  tribes  would  fall  in  with  each 
other,  and  from  the  fierce  conflicts  which  gener- 
ally followed  these  casual  rencounters,  the 
country  had  been  known  among  them  by  the 
name  of  "  the  darTc  and  hloody  ground!  " 

The  two  adventurers  soon  learned  the  addi- 
tional danger  to  which  they  were  exposed. 
While  roving  carelessly  from  canebrake  to  cane- 
brake,  and  admiring  the  rank  growth  of  vege- 
tation, and  the  variety  of  timber  which  marked 
the  fertility  of  the  soil,  they  were  suddenly 
alarmed  by  the  appearance  of  a  party  of  In- 
dians, who,  springing  from  their  place  of  con« 
cealment,  rushed  upon  them  with  a  rapidity 
which  rendered  escape  impossible. 

They  were  almost  instantly  seized,  disarmed, 
and  made  prisoners.  Their  feelings  may  be 
readily  imagined.  They  were  in  the  hands  of 
an  enemy  who  knew  no  alternative  bet^veen 
adoption  and  torture;  and  the  numbers  and 
ileetness  of  their  captors  rendered  escape  by 
open  means  impossible,  while    their    jealous 


44  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

vigilance   seemed  equally  fatal   to  any  secret 
attempt. 

Boone,  however,  was  possessed  of  a  temper 
admirably  adapted  to  the  circumstances  in  which 
he  was  placed.  Of  a  cold  and  saturnine,  rather 
than  an  ardent  disposition,  he  was  never  either 
so  much  elevated  by  good  fortune  or  depressed 
by  bad,  as  to  lose  for  an  instant  the  full  posses- 
sion of  all  his  faculties.  He  saw  that  immedi- 
ate escape  was  impossible,  but  he  encouraged 
his  companion,  and  constrained  himself  to  ac- 
company the  Indians  in  all  their  excursions, 
Avith  so  calm  and  contented  an  air,  that  their 
vigilance  insensibly  began  to  relax. 

On  the  seventh  evening  of  their  captivity,  they 
encamped  in  a  thick  canebrake,  and  ha\ang 
built  a  large  fire,  lay  down  to  rest.  The  party 
whose  duty  it  was  to  watch  were  weary  and 
negligent,  and  about  midnigh"^  Boone,  who  had 
not  closed  an  eye,  ascertained,  from  the  deep 
breathing  all  around  him,  that  the  whole  party, 
including  Stuart,  was  in  a  deep  sleep. 

Gently  and  gradually  extricating  himself 
from  the  Indians  who  lay  around  him,  he  walked 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  45 

cautiously  to  the  spot  where  Stuart  lay,  and 
having  succeeded  in  awakening  him,  without 
alarming  the  rest,  he  briefly  informed  him  of 
his  determination,  and  exhorted  him  to  arise, 
make  no  noise,  and  follow  him.  Stuart,  al- 
though ignorant  of  the  design,  and  suddenly 
roused  from  sleep,  fortunately  obeyed  with 
equal  silence  and  celerity,  and  within  a  few 
minutes  they  were  beyond  hearing. 

Eapidly  traversing  the  forest,  by  the  light  of 
the  stars  and  the  bark  of  the  trees,  they  ascer- 
tained the  direction  in  which  the  camp  lay,  but 
upon  reaching  it  on  the  next  day,  to  their  great 
grief,  they  found  it  plundered  and  deserted, 
with  nothing  remaining  to  show  the  fate  of  their 
companions  ;  and  even  to  the  day  of  his  death, 
Boone  knew  not  whether  they  had  been  killed 
or  taken,  or  had  voluntaiily  abandoned  their 
cabin  and  returned.* 

Indeed  it  has  never  been  ascertained  what 
became  of  Finley  and  the  rest  of  Boone's  party 
of  hunters.  If  Finley  himself  had  returned  to 
Carolina,   so  remarkable  a  person   would   un- 

*  McClung.    *'  Western  Adventures.** 


46  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

doubtedly  have  left  some  trace  of  himself  in  the 
history  of  his  time ;  but  no  trace  exists  of  any 
of  the  party  who  were  left  at  the  old  camp  by 
Boone  and  Stuart.  Boone  and  Stuart  resumed 
their  hunting,  although  their  ammunition  was 
running  low,  and  they  were  compelled,  by  the 
now  well-known  danger  of  Indian  hostilities,  to 
seek  for  more  secret  and  secure  hiding-places  at 
night  than  their  old  encampment  in  the  ravine. 

The  only  kind  of  fireaims  used  by  the  back- 
woods hunter  is  the  rifle.  In  the  use  of  this 
weapon  Boone  was  exceedingly  skilful.  The 
fallowing  anecdote,  related  by  the  celebrated 
naturalist,  Audubon,*  shows  that  he  retained 
his  wonderful  precision  of  aim  till  a  late  period 
of  his  life. 

"  Barking  off  squirrels  is  delightful  sport, 
and,  in  my  opinion,  requires  a  greater  degree  of 
accuracy  than  any  other.  I  first  witnessed  this 
manner  of  procuring  squirrels  whilst  near  the 
town  of  Frankfort.  The  performer  was  the 
celebrated  Daniel  Boone.  We  walked  out  to« 
gether,  and  followed  the  rocky  margins  of  the 

*  Ornithological  Biography,  pp.  293-4. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  47 

Kentucky  River,  until  we  reached  a  piece  of  flat 
land  thickly  covered  with  black  walnuts,  oaks, 
and  hickories.  As  the  general  mast  was  a  good 
one  that  year,  squirrels  were  seen  gamboling 
on  every  tree  around  us.  My  companion,  a 
stout,  hale,  and  athletic  man,  dressed  in  a  home- 
spun hunting-shirt,  bare-legged  and  moccasined, 
carried  a  long  and  heavy  rifle  which,  as  he  was 
loading  it,  he  said  had  proved  eflicient  in  all  his 
former  undertakings,  and  which  he  hoped  would 
not  fail  on  this  occasion,  as  he  felt  proud  to 
show  me  his  skill.  The  gun  was  wiped,  the 
powder  measured,  the  ball  patched  with  six- 
hundred-thread  linen,  and  the  charge  sent  home 
with  a  hickory  rod.  AVe  moved  not  a  step  from 
the  place,  for  the  squirrels  were  so  numerous 
that  it  was  unnecessaiy  to  go  after  them.  Boone 
pointed  to  one  of  these  animals  which  had  ob- 
served us,  and  was  crouched  on  a  branch  about 
fifty  paces  distant,  and  bade  me  mark  well  the 
spot  where  the  ball  should  hit.  He  raised  his 
piece  gradually,  until  the  head  (that  being  the 
name  given  by  the  Kentuckians  to  the  siglii)  of 
the  barrel  was  brought  to  a  line  with  the  spot 


48  IJFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

which  he  intended  to  hit.  The  whip-like  re« 
port  resounded  through  the  woods  and  along 
the  hills  in  repeated  echoes.  Judge  of  my  sur- 
prise, when  I  perceived  that  the  ball  had  hit 
the  piece  of  the  bark  immediately  beneath  the 
squirrel,  and  shivered  it  into  splinters,  the  con- 
cussion j^roduced  by  which  had  killed  the  ani- 
mal,  and  sent  it  whirling  thi'ough  the  air^  as  if 
it  had  been  blown  up  by  the  explosion  of  a 
powder  magazine.  Boone  kept  up  his  firing, 
and  before  many  houi^  had  elapsed  we  had  pro- 
cured as  many  squirrels  as  we  wished  ;  for  you 
must  know  that  to  load  a  rifle  requires  only  a 
moment,  and  that  if  it  is  wiped  once  after  each 
shot,  it  will  do  duty  for  hours.  Since  that  fii'st 
inter\dew  with  our  veteran  Boone,  I  have  seen 
many  other  individuals  perform  the  same  feat" 


CHAPTER  V. 

Arrival  ot  Squire  Boone  and  a  companion  at  the  camp  of 
^^el  Boone-Joyful    meeting-News    from  Home    and 
l^"«ng  resumed-Daniel  Boone  and  Stuart  surprised  by 
thrindians-Stuart  killed-Escape  ot  Boone   and  his  re- 
turn  U^amp-Squire  Boone's  companion  lost  m  the  woods 
-Residence  of  Daniel  Boone   and  Sqmre  Boone  m  the 
.UdTrnerSquire  returns  to  North  Carolina    obta.ns  a 
freshsupply  of  ammunition,  and  agam  rejoms  his  brother 
Itthe  o^Icamp-Daniel  Boone's  own  account  of  th.s  re- 
markabt  period  of  his  life-His  return  to  North  C-,^a 
-His  determination  to  settle  in  Kentucky-Othei  W^t 
er^  ^venturers-The  Long  hunters-AVashington  m  Ken- 
t^y-BuUitfsparty-Floyd-s  paity-Thompson  s  survey 
—First  settlement  of  Tennessee. 

In  the  early  part  of  tlie  month  of  Januaiy, 
1776,  Boone  and   Stuart  were  agreeably  sur- 
prised  by   the   arrival   of   Squire  Boone,  the 
younger  brother   of   Daniel,   accompanied  by 
another  man,  whose  name  has  not  been  handed 
down.    The  meeting  took  place  as  they  were 
hunting  in  the  woods.     The  newcomers  were 
haUed  at  a  distance  mth  the  usual   greetmg, 
"Holloa!  strangers,  who  are  you?"  to  which 
they    answered,    MVhite    men  and    friends." 


50  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

And  friends  indeed  they  were — friends  in  need  ; 
for  they  brought  a  supply  of  ammunition  and 
news  from  Daniel  Boone's  home  and  family  on 
the  Yadkin.  They  had  had  a  weary  journey 
through  the  wilderness,  and  although  they  had 
met  with  no  Indians  on  their  Avay,  they  had 
frequently  come  upon  their  traces  in  passing 
through  the  woods.  Their  purpose  in  under- 
taking this  formidable  journey  had  been  to 
learn  the  fate  of  Boone  and  his  party,  whose 
safety  was  nearly  despaired  of  by  his  fiiends  in 
North  Carolina,  to  hunt  for  themselves,  and  to 
convey  a  supply  of  ammunition  to  Boone.  It 
is  difficult  to  conceive  the  joy  vdih  which  their 
opportune  arrival  was  welcomed.  They  in- 
formed Boone  that  they  had  just  seen  the  last 
night's  encampment  of  Stuart  and  himself,  so 
that  the  joyful  meeting  was  not  wholly  unan- 
ticipated by  them. 

Thus  reinforced,  the  party,  now  consisting  of 
four  skilful  hunters,  might  reasonably  hope  for 
increased  security,  and  a  fortunate  issue  to  their 
protracted  hunting  tour.  But  they  hunted  in 
gej)arate  parties,  and  in  one  of  these  Daniel 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  51 

Boone  and  Stuart  fell  in  with  a  party  of  In- 
dians, wlio  fired  upon  tliem.  Stuart  was  shot 
dead  and  scalped  by  the  Indians,  but  Boone 
escaped  in  the  forest,  and  rejoined  his  brother 
and  the  remaining  hunter  of  the  party. 

A  few  days  afterward  this  hunter  was  lost  in 
the  woods,  and  did  not  return  as  usual  to  the 
camp.  Daniel  and  Squire  made  a  long  and 
anxious  search  for  him ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 
Years  afterward  a  skeleton  was  discov^ered  in 
the  woods,  which  was  supposed  to  be  that  of 
the  lost  hunter. 

The  two  brothers  were  thus  left  in  the  wilder- 
ness alone,  separated  hy  several  hundred  miles 
from  home,  surrounded  by  hostile  Indians,  and 
destitute  of  everything  but  their  rifles.  After 
having  had  such  melancholy  experience  of  the 
dangers  to  ^^'hich  they  were  exposed,  we  would 
naturally  suppose  that  their  fortitude  would 
have  given  way,  and  that  they  would  instantly 
have  returned  to  the  settlements.  But  the  most 
remarl<:al)le  feature  in  Boone's  character  was  a 
calm  and  cold  equanimity  which  rarely  rose  to 
enthusiasm  and  never  sunk  to  despondence. 


52  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

His  courage  undervalued  the  danger  to  which 
he  was  exposed,  and  his  presence  of  mind^  which 
never  forsook  him,  enabled  him  on  all  occasions 
to  take  the  best  means  of  avoiding  it.  The 
wilderness,  mth  all  its  dangers  and  privations, 
had  a  charm  for  him,  which  is  scarcely  conceiv- 
able  by  one  brought  up  in  a  city,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  remain  alone  while  his  brother  returned 
to  Carolina  for  an  additional  supply  of  ammu- 
nition, as  their  original  supply  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted. His  situation  we  should  noAv  suppose 
in  tlie  highest  degree  gloomy  and  dispiriting. 
The  dangers  which  attended  his  brother  on 
his  return  Avere  nearly  equal  to  his  own ;  and 
each  had  left  a  wife  and  children,  which 
Boone  acknowledged  cost  him  many  an  anxious 
thought. 

But  the  vdld  and  solitary  grandeur  of  the 
country  around  him,  where  not  a  tree  had  been 
cut,  nor  a  house  erected,  was  to  him  an  inex* 
haustible  source  of  admiration  and  delight ;  and 
he  says  to  himself,  that  some  of  the  most  rapt- 
urous moments  of  his  life  were  spent  in  those 
lonely  rambles.     The  utmost  caution  was  ueces- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  53 

Bary  to  avoid  the  savages,  and  scarcely  less  to 
escape  tlie  ravenous  hunger  of  the  wolves  that 
prowled  nightly  around  hira  in  immense  num- 
bers. He  was  compelled  frequently  to  shift  his 
lodging,  and  by  undoubted  signs  saw  that  the 
Indians  had  repeatedly  visited  his  hut  during 
his  absence.  He  sometimes  lay  in  canebrakes 
without  fire,  and  heard  the  yells  of  the  Indians 
around  him.  Fortunately,  however,  he  never 
encountered  them."^ 

Mr.  Perkins,  in  his  Annals  of  the  West, 
speaking  of  this  sojourn  of  the  brothers  in  the 
wilderness,  says:  And  now  commenced  that 
most  extraordinary  life  on  the  part  of  these  two 
men  which  has,  in  a  great  measure,  served  to 
give  celebrity  to  their  names ;  we  refer  to  their 
residence,  entirely  alone,  for  more  than  a  year 
in  a  land  filled  mth  the  most  subtle  and  un- 
sparing enemies,  and  under  the  influence  of  no 
other  motive,  apparently,  than  a  love  of  adven- 
ture, of  Nature,  and  of  solitude.  Nor  were  they, 
during  this  time,  always  together.  For  three 
months,  Daniel  remained  amid  the  forest  utterly 

*  McClung. 


54  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

by  himself,  while  his  brother,  with  courage  and 
capacity  equal  to  his  own,  returned  to  North 
Carolina  for  a  supply  of  powder  and  lead ;  with 
which  he  succeeded  in  rejoining  the  roamer  of 
the  wilderness  in  safety  in  July,  1770. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  conceive  of  the 
skill,  coolness,  and  sagacity  which  enabled 
Daniel  Boone  to  spend  so  many  weeks  in  the 
midst  of  the  Indians,  and  yet  be  undiscovered  by 
them.  He  appears  to  have  changed  his  position 
continually-^to  have  explored  the  whole  center 
of  what  forms  now  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and 
in  so  doing  must  have  exposed  himself  to  many 
different  parties  of  the  natives.  A  reader  of 
Mr.  Cooper's  Last  of  the  Mohicans  may  compre- 
hend, in  some  measure,  the  arts  by  which  he 
was  preserved,  but,  after  all,  a  natural  gift  seems 
to  lie  at  the  basis  of  such  consummate  wood- 
craft ;  an  instinct,  rather  than  any  exercise  of 
intellect,  appeal^  to  have  guided  Boone  in  such 
matters,  and  made  him  pre-eminent  among  those 
who  were  most  accomplished  in  the  knowledge 
of  forest  life.  Then  we  are  to  remember  the 
week's  captivity  of  the  previous  year ;  it  Wc)S 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  55 

the  first  practical  acquaintance  that  the  pioneer 
had  with  the  AVestern  Indians,  and  we  may  be 
assured  he  spent  that  week  in  noting  carefully 
the  whole  method  of  his  captors.  Indeed,  we 
think  it  probable  he  remained  in  captivity  so 
long  that  he  might  learn  their  arts,  stratagems, 
and  modes  of  concealment.  We  are,  moreover^ 
to  keep  in  mind  this  fact :  the  woods  of  Ken- 
tucky were  at  that  period  filled  with  a  species 
of  nettle  of  such  a  character  that,  being  once 
bent  down,  it  did  not  recover  itself,  but  remained 
prostrate,  thus  retaining  the  impression  of  a  foot 
almost  like  snow — even  a  turkey  might  be 
tracked  in  it  with  perfect  ease.  This  weed 
Boone  would  carefully  avoid,  but  the  natives, 
numerous  and  fearless,  would  commonly  pay  no 
regard  to  it,  so  that  the  white  hunter  was  sure 
to  have  palpable  signs  of  the  presence  of  his 
enemies,  and  the  direction  they  had  taken. 
Considering  these  circumstances,  it  is  even  more 
remarkable  that  his  brother  should  have  re- 
turned in  safety,  mth  his  loaded  horses,  than 
that  he  remained  alone  unharmed ;  though  in 
the  escape  of  both  from  captivity  or  death  from 


56  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

January,  1770,  until  their  return  to  the  Atlantic 
rivers  in  March,  1771,  there  is  something  so 
wonderful  that  the  old  pioneer's  phrase,  that  he 
was  "  an  instrument  ordained  to  settle  the  wil- 
derness," seems  entirely  proper. 

Daniel  Boone's  own  account  of  this  period  of 
his  life,  contained  in  his  autobiography,  is  highly 
characteristic.     It  is  as  follows : 

"  Thus  situated,  many  hundred  miles  from  our 
families  in  the  howling  wilderness,  I  believe  few 
would  have  equally  enjoyed  the  happiness  we 
experienced.  I  often  observed  to  my  brother, 
*  You  see  now  how  little  nature  requires  to  be 
satisfied.  Felicity,  the  companion  of  content, 
is  rather  found  in  our  own  breasts  than  in  the 
enjoyment  of  external  things ;  and  I  firmly  be- 
lieve it  requires  but  a  little  philosophy  to  make 
a  man  happy  in  whatsoever  state  he  is.  This 
consists  in  a  full  resignation  to  Providence,  and 
a  resigned  soul  finds  pleasure  in  a  path  strewed 
with  briers  and  thorns.' 

"  We  continued  not  in  a  state  of  indolence,  but 
hunted  every  day,  and  prepared  a  little  cottage 
to  defend  us  from  the  winter  storms.     We  re* 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  57 

mained  there  undisturbed  during  the  winter; 
and  on  the  first  of  May,  1770,  my  brother  re- 
turned home  to  the  settlement  by  himself  for  a 
new  recruit  of  horses  and  ammunition,  leaving 
me  by  myself,  without  bread,  salt,  or  sugar, 
without  company  of  my  fellow-creatures,  or  even 
a  horse  or  dog.  I  confess  I  never  before  was 
under  greater  necessity  of  exercising  philosophy 
and  fortitude.  A  few  days  I  passed  uncomfort- 
ably. The  idea  of  a  beloved  wife  and  family, 
and  their  anxiety  on  account  of  my  absence  and 
exposed  situation,  made  sensible  impressions  on 
my  heart.  A  thousand  dreadful  apprehensions 
presented  themselves  to  my  view,  and  had  im- 
doubtedly  disposed  me  to  melancholy  if  further 
indulged. 

"  One  day  I  undertook  a  tour  through  the 
country,  and  the  diversity  and  beauties  of  Na- 
ture I  met  ^vith  in  this  charming  season  expelled 
every  gloomy  and  vexatious  thought.  Just  at 
the  close  of  day  the  gentle  gales  retired,  and 
left  the  place  to  the  disposal  of  a  profound  calm. 
Not  a  breeze  shook  the  most  tremulous  leaf.  I 
had  gained  the  summit  of  a  conmianding  ridge, 


58  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

and,  looking  round  with  astonishing  delight, 
beheld  the  ample  plains,  the  beauteous  tracts 
below.  On  the  other  hand,  I  surveyed  the 
famous  river  Ohio  that  roiled  in  silent  dignity, 
marking  the  western  boundary  of  Kentucky 
with  inconceivable  grandeur.  At  a  vast  di  stance 
I  beheld  the  mountains  lift  their  venerable 
brows,  and  penetrate  the  clouds.  All  things 
were  still.  I  kindled  a  fire  near  a  fountain  of 
sweet  water,  and  feasted  on  the  loin  of  a  buck, 
which  a  few  hours  before  I  had  killed.  The 
fallen  shades  of  night  soon  overspread  the  whole 
hemisphere,  and  the  earth  seemed  to  gape  after 
the  hovering  moisture.  My  roving  excursion 
this  day  had  fatigued  my  body,  and  diverted 
my  imagination.  I  laid  me  down  to  sleep,  and 
I  awoke  not  until  the  sun  had  chased  away  the 
night.  I  continued  this  tour,  and  in  a  few  days 
explored  a  considerable  part  of  the  country, 
each  day  equally  pleased  as  the  fii'st.  I  returned 
to  my  old  camp,  which  was  not  disturbed  in  my 
absence.  I  did  not  confine  my  lodging  to  it, 
but  often  reposed  in  thick  canebrakes  to  avoid 
the  savages,  who,  I  believe,  often  visited  my 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  59 

camp,  but  fortunately  for  me  in  my  absence. 
In  this  situation  I  was  constantly  exposed  to 
danger  and  deatli.  How  unhappy  such  a  situ- 
ation for  a  man  tormented  with  fear,  which  is 
vain  if  no  danger  comes,  and,  if  it  does,  only 
augments  the  pain.  It  w^as  my  happiness  to  be 
destitute  of  this  afflicting  passion,  with  which 
I  had  the  greatest  reason  to  be  affected.  The 
prowling  wolves  diverted  my  nocturnal  hours 
with  pei-petual  howlings ;  and  the  various  species 
of  animals  in  this  vast  forest  in  the  daytime 
were  continually  in  my  view. 

''  Thus  I  was  suiTounded  with  plenty  in  the 
midst  of  want.  I  was  happy  in  the  midst  of 
dangers  and  inconveniences.  In  such  a  diver- 
sity it  was  impossible  I  should  be  disposed  to 
melancholy.  No  populous  city,  with  all  the 
varieties  of  commerce  and  stately  structures, 
could  afford  so  much  pleasure  to  my  mind  as 
the  beauties  of  Nature  I  found  here. 

"Thus,  through  an  uninterrupted  scene  of 
sylvan  pleasures,  I  spent  the  time  until  the  27  th 
day  of  July  following,  when  my  brother,  to  my 
great  felicity,  met  me  according  to  appointment^ 


eo  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

at  oiu^  old  camp.  Shortly  after  we  left  this 
place.  Dot  thinking  it  safe  to  stay  there  any 
longer,  and  proceeded  to  Cumberland  Ei^'er, 
reconnoitering  that  part  of  the  country  until 
March,  1771,  and  giving  names  to  the  different 

waters. 

"  Soon  after,  I  returned  home  to  my  family, 
with  a  determination  to  bring  them  as  soon  as 
possible  to  live  in  Kentucky,  which  I  esteemed 
a  second  paradise,  at  the  risk  of  my  life  and 
fortune. 

"  I  returned  safe  to  my  old  habitation,  and 
found  my  family  in  happy  circumstances." 

This  extract  is  taken  from  the  autobiography 
of  Daniel  Boone,  written  from  his  own  dictation 
by  John  Pilson,  and  published  in  1784.  Some 
^niters  have  censured  this  production  as  in- 
flated and  bombastic.  To  us  it  seems  simple 
and  natural ;  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  the 
very  words  of  Boone  are  given  for  the  most  part. 
The  use  of  glomng  imagery  and  strong  figures 
is  by  no  means  confined  to  highly-educated  per- 
sons. Those  who  are  illiterate,  as  Boone  cer- 
tainly was,  often  indulge  in  this  style.     Even 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  61 

the  Indians  are  remai^kably  fond  of  bold  meta- 
phors and  other  rhetorical  figures,  as'  is  abun- 
dantly proved  by  their  speeches  and  legends. 

While  Boone  had  been  engaged  in  his  late 
hunting  tour,  other  adventurers  were  examin- 
ing the  rich  lands  south  of  the  Ohio.'"*  Even  in 
1770,  while  Boone  was  wandering  solitary  in 
those  Kentucky  forests,  a  band  of  forty  hunters, 
led  by  Colonel  James  Knox,  had  gathered  from 
the  valleys  of  Ne^v  River,  Clinch,  and  Holston, 
to  chase  the  buffaloes  of  the  West ;  nine  of  the 
foi-ty  had  crossed  the  mountains,  penetrated  the 
desei*t  and  almost  impassable  countiy  about  the 
heads  of  the  Cumberland,  and  explored  the  re- 
gion on  the  borders  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
This  himting  party,  from  the  length  of  time  it 
was  absent,  is  known  in  the  traditions  of  the 
West  as  the  party  of  the  Long  Hunters.  While 
these  bold  men  were  penetrating  the  valley  of 
the  Ohio,  in  the  region  of  the  Cumberland  Gap, 
others  came  fi'om  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  by 
the  river ;  among  them,  and  in  the  same  year 
that   the   Long  Hunters  were    abroad  (1770), 

*  Perkins.     "  Aimals  of  the  West." 


02  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

came  uo  less  noted  a  person  than  George  Wash- 
ino-ton.  His  attention,  as  vre  have  before  said, 
had  been  turned  to  the  lands  along  the  Ohio,  at 
a  very  early  period  ;  he  had  himself  large  claims, 
as  well  as  far-reaching  plans  of  settlement,  and 
he  wished  with  his  own  eyes  to  examine  the 
Western  lands,  especially  those  about  the  mouth 
of  the  Kanawha.  From  the  journal  of  his  ex- 
pedition, published  by  Mr.  Sparks,  in  the  Ap- 
pendix to  the  second  volume  of  his  Washington 
Papers,  we  learn  some  valuable  facts  in  reference 
to  the  position  of  affairs  in  the  Ohio  valley  at 
that  time.  We  learn,  for  instance,  that  the  Vir- 
ginians were  rapidly  surveying  and  settling  the 
lands  south  of  the  river  as  far  down  as  the  Kana- 
wlias ;  and  that  the  Indians,  notwithstanding 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Stan\vix,  were  jealous  and 
angry  at  this  constant  invasion  of  their  hunting- 
grounds. 

"  This  jealousy  and  anger  were  not  supposed 
to  cool  during  the  years  next  succeeding,  and 
when  Thomas  Bullitt  and  his  party  descended 
the  Ohio  in  the  summer  of  1773,  he  found  that 
uo  settlements  would  be  tolerated  south  of  the 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  63 

river,  unless  the  Indian  lumting-grounds  were 
left  undisturbed.  To  leave  them  undisturbed 
was,  however,  no  part  of  the  plan  of  these  white 


men. 


"This  very  party,  which  Bullitt  led,  and  in 
which  were  the  two  McAfees,  Hancock,  Taylor, 
Drennon  and  others,  separated,  and  while  part 
went  up  the  Kentucky  Kiver,  explored  the  banks, 
and  made  important  surveys,  including  the  vah 
ley  in  Avhich  Frankfort  stands,  the  remainder 
went  on  to  the  Falls,  and  laid  out,  in  behalf  of 
John  Campbell  and  John  Connolly,  the  plan  of 
Louisville.     All  this  took  place  in  the  summer 
of  1773 ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  or  early 
in  the  next,  John  Floyd,  the  deputy  of  Colonel 
William   Preston,    the   surveyor    of    Fincastle 
County,  Virginia,  in  which  it  was  claimed  that 
Kentucky  was  comprehended,  also  crossed  the 
mountains,  while  General  Thompson,  of  Penn- 
sylvania,  made  surveys  upon  the  north  fork  of 
the  Licking.    When  Boone,  therefore,  in  Septem- 
ber, commenced  his  march  for  the  West  (as  we 
shall  presently  relate),  the  choice  regions  which 
he  had  examined  three  years  before  w^ere  known 


Q4:  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

to  numbers,  and  settlers  were  preparing  to  dese- 
crate the  silent  and  beautiful  woods.  Nor  did 
the  prospects  of  the  English  colonists  stop  with 
the  settlements  of  Kentucky.  In  1773,  General 
Lyman,  ^vith  a  number  of  militar}^  adventurers, 
went  to  Natchez  and  laid  out  several  townships 
in  that  vicinity ;  to  which  point  emigration  set 
so  strongly,  that  we  are  told  four  hundred 
families  passed  do^vn  the  Ohio  on  their  way 
thither,  during  six  weeks  of  the  summer  of  that 
year."  * 

*  Perkins.    *'  Annals  of  the  West." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Daniel  Boone  remains  two  years  in  North  Carolina  after  his 
return  from  the  West — He  prepares  to  emigrate  to  Ken- 
tucky— Character  of  the  early  settlers  to  Kentucky — The 
first  class,  hunters — The  second  class,  small  farmers — The 
third  class,  men  of  wealth  and  government  ofiicers. 

Daniel  Boone  had  now  returned  to  his  home 
on  the  banks  of  the  Yadkin,  after  an  absence  of 
no  less  than  two  years,  during  which  time  he 
had  not  tasted,  as  he  remarks  in  his  autobiogra- 
phy, either  salt,  sugar,  or  bread.  He  must  have 
enjoyed,  in  no  ordinary  degree,  tlie  comforts  of 
home.  Carolina,  ho^vever,  ^vas  to  be  his  home 
but  for  a  short  time.  He  had  fully  determined, 
to  go  with  his  family  to  Kentucky  and  settle  in 
that  lovely  region.  He  was  destined  to  found  a 
State. 

After  Boone's  i*eturn  to  ?\'orth  Carolina,  more 
than  two  years  passed  away  before  he  could 
complete  the  arrangements  necessary  for  remov- 
ing his  family  to  Kentucky.     He  sold  his  farm 
5  ^5 


66  LIFE    OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

on  the  Yadkin,  which  had  been  for  many  years 
under  cultivation,  and  no  doubt  brought  him 
a  sum  amply  sufficient  for  the  expenses  of  his 
journey  and  the  furnishing  of  a  new  home  in 
the  promised  land.  He  had,  of  course,  to  over- 
come the  natural  repugnance  of  his  wife  and 
children  to  leave  the  home  which  had  become 
dear  to  them ;  and  he  had  also  to  enlist  other 
adventurers  to  accompany  him.  And  here  we 
deem  it  proper,  before  entering  upon  the  account 
of  his  departure,  to  quote  from  a  cotemporary,* 
some  general  remarks  on  the  character  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Kentucky. 

^'Throughout  the  United  States,  generally,  the 
most  erroneous  notions  prevail  with  respect  to 
the  character  of  the  first  settlers  of  Kentucky ; 
and  by  several  of  the  American  novelists,  the 
most  ridiculous  uses  have  been  made  of  the  fine 
materials  for  fiction  which  lie  scattered  over 
nearly  the  whole  extent  of  that  region  of  daring 
adventure  and  romantic  incident.  The  common 
idea  seems  to  be,  that  the  first  \\'anderers  to 
Kentucky  were  a  simple,  ignorant,  low-bred, 
*  W.  D.  Gallagher,  "  Hesperian,"  Vol.  II.,  p.  89. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  67 

gocKl-for-notliiiig  set  of  fellows,  who  left  the 
frontiei's  and  sterile  places  of  the  old  States, 
where  a  considerable  amount  of  labor  was  nec- 
essary to  secure  a  livelihood,  and  sought  the  new 
and  fertile  country  southeast  of  the  Ohio  Elver 
and  northwest  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains, 
where  corn  would  produce  bread  for  them  with 
simply  the  labor  of  planting,  and  where  the 
achievements  of  their  guns  would  supply  them 
with  meat  and  clothing  ;  a  set  of  men  who,  with 
that  instinct  which  belongs  to  the  beaver,  built 
a  numljer  of  log  cabins  on  the  banks  of  some 
secluded  stream,  which  they  surrounded  with 
palisades  for  the  better  protection  of  their  wives 
and  children,  and  then  went  wandering  about, 
with  guns  on  their  shoulders,  or  traps  under 
their  arms,  leading  a  solitary,  listless,  ruminat' 
ing  life,  till  aroused  by  the  appearance  of  dan- 
ger, or  a  sudden  attack  from  unseen  enemies, 
when  instantly  they  approved  themselves  the 
bravest  of  warriors,  and  the  most  expert  of 
strategists.  The  romancers  who  have  attempted 
to  describe  their  habits  of  life  and  delineate 
their  characters,  catching  this  last  idea,  and  im- 


68  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  iBOONE. 

agiuiug  tilings  probable  of  tlie  countiy  they  were 
in,  have  drawn  the  one  in  lines  the  most  gi'o 
tesque  and  absurd,  and  colored  the  other  with 
a  pencil  dipped  in  all  hues  but  the  right.  To 
them  the  early  pioneers  appear  to  have  been 
people  of  a  character  demi-devil,  demi-savage,  nol 
only  without  the  remains  of  former  ci^dlization, 
but  without  even  the  recollection  that  they 
had  been  born  and  bred  where  people  were, 
at  the  least,  measurably  sane,  somewhat  reli- 
giously inclined,  and,  for  the  most,  civilly 
behaved. 

"  Both  of  these  conceptions  of  the  character  ol 
the  Pioneer  Fathers  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  cor- 
rect as  regards  individuah  among  them;  but 
the  pictures  which  have  often  been  given  us, 
even  when  held  up  beside  such  individuah^  will 
prove  to  be  exaggerations  in  more  respects  than 
one.  Daniel  Boone  is  an  individual  instance 
of  a  man  plunging  into  the  depths  of  an  un- 
known Avilderness,  shunning  rather  than  seek- 
ing contact  Avith  his  kind,  his  gun  and  trap  the 
only  companions  of  his  solitude,  and  ^vandering 
about  thus  for  months, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  69 

•  No  mark  upon  the  tree,  nor  print,  nor  track, 
To  lead  him  forward,  or  to  guide  him  back, 

contented  and  happy  ;  yet,  for  all  this,  if  those 
,vho  knew  him  Avell  had  any  true  conception  ol 
his  character,  Boone  was  a  man  of  ambition 
and  shrewdness,  and   energy,  and    fine   social 
qnalities,  and  extreme  sagacity.     And  mdnid- 
ual   instances  there  may  have  been-though 
even  this  possibility  is  not  sustained   by  the 
primitive  histories  of  those  times-of  men  who 
were  so  far  ordre  to  the  usual  course  of  then- 
kind  as  to  have  afforded  originals  for  the  Sam 
JIuffcjs,the  Nimrod  Wildfires,  the  Ralph  Stach 
pohs    the   Tom  Brnces,  and  the  EarthquaJces., 
.vhich  so  abound  in  most  of  those  fictions  whose 
hcaleiB  the  Western  country.    But  that  natur- 
alist who  should  attempt,  by  ever  so  minute  a 
description  of  a  pied  blackbird,  to  give  his  readers 
acorrectideaofthe  Cfracvlu  Ferrugineaoi  omi- 
thologists,  would  not  more  utterly  fail  of  accom- 
plishing his  object,  than  have  the  authors  whose 
creations  we  have  named,  by  delineating  such 
individual  instances— by  holding  up,  as  it  were, 
such  mtre  specimens  of  an  original  class-failed 


70  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

to  convey  anything  like  an  accurate  impression 
of  the  habits,  customs,  and  general  character 
of  the  Western  pioneers. 

**  Daniel  Boone,  and  those  who  accompanied 
tim  into  the  wildernesses  of  Kentucky,  had 
been  little  more  than  hunters  in  their  original 
homes,  on  the  frontiers  of  North  Carolina ;  and, 
with  the  exception  of  their  leader,  but  little 
more  than  hunters  did  they  continue  after  their 
emigration.  The  most  glowing  accounts  of  the 
beauty  and  fertility  of  the  country  northwest 
of  the  Laiu-el  Eidge,  had  reached  their  ears 
from  Finley  and  his  companions ;  and  they 
shouldered  their  guns,  strapped  their  wallets 
upon  their  backs  and  wandered  thi'ough  the 
Cumberland  Gap  into  the  dense  forests,  and 
thick  brakes,  and  beautiful  plains  which  soon 
opened  upon  their  visions,  more  to  indulge  a 
habit  of  roving,  and  gratify  an  excited  curi- 
osity, than  from  any  other  motive  ;  and,  arrived 
upon  the  head-waters  of  the  Kentucky,  they 
built  themsehes  rude  log  cabins,  and  spent 
most  of  their  lives  in  hunting  and  eating,  and 
fighting  marauding  bands   of  Indians.     Of  ^ 


Lli  E    OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  Yl 

Similar  character  were  the  earliest  Virginians, 
who  penetrated  these  wildernesses.  The  very 
first,  indeed,  who  wandered  from  the  parent 
State  over  tlie  Laurel  Ridge,  down  into  the 
unknown  regions  on  its  northwest,  came  avow- 
edly as  hunters  and  ti'appers;  and  such  of 
them  as  escaped  the  tomahawk  of  the  Indian, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  remained  hunters 
and  trappers  till  their  deaths. 

"  But  this  iirst  class  of  pioneers  was  not  either 
numerous  enough,  or  influential  enough,  to  stamp 
its  character  upon  the  after-coming  hundreds  ; 
and  the  second  class  of  immigrants  into  Ken- 
tucky was  composed  of  very  different  materials. 
Small  farmers  from  IS^orth  Carolina,  Virginia, 
and  Pennsylvania,  for  the  most  part,  constituted 
this ;  and  these  daring  adventurers  brought 
with  them  intelligent  and  aspiring  minds,  in- 
dustrious and  persevering  habits,  a  few  of  the 
comforts  of  civilized  life,  and  some  of  the  im- 
plements of  husbandry.  A  number  of  them 
were  men  who  had  received  the  rudiments  of  an 
English  education,  and  not  a  few  of  them  had 
Deen    reared    up   in    the    spirit,  and    a   sincere 


72  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

observance  of  the  forms,  of  religious  worship. 
Many,  perhaps  most  of  them,  were  from  the 
frontier  settlements  of  the  States  named ;  and 
these  combined  the  habits  of  the  hunter  and 
agriculturist,  and  possessed,  Avith  no  inconsid- 
erable knowledge  of  partially  refined  life,  all 
til  at  boldness  and  energy,  which  subsequently 
became  so  distinctive  a  trait  of  the  character  of 
the  early  settlers. 

"  This  second  class  of  the  pioneers,  or  at  least 
the  mass  of  those ^^ho  constituted  it,  sought  the 
plains  and  forests,  and  streams  of  Kentucky, 
not  to  induk'e  anv  inclination  for  listless  ram- 
blings ;  nor  as  hunters  or  trappers ;  nor  yet  for 
the  purpose  of  gratifying  an  awakened  curi- 
osity :  they  came  deliberately,  soberly,  thought- 
fully, in  searcli  of  a  liome^  determined,  fi^om  the 
outset,  to  win  one,  or  perish  in  the  attempt ;  they 
came  to  cast  their  lot  in  a  land  that  Avas  neiv, 
to  better  their  worldly  condition  by  the  acqui- 
sition of  demesnes,  to  build  up  a  new  common- 
wealth in  an  unpeopled  region  ;  they  came  with 
their  wives,  and  their  children,  and  their  kin- 
(^liv<l  fvovrt  places  wher^.  tia  toil  of  the  ha.n^ 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^3 

and  tlie  sweat  of  tlie  brow,  could  hardly  supply 
them  with  bread,  to  a  land  in  which  ordinary 
industry  would,  almost  at  once,  furnish  all  the 
necessaries  of  life,  and  w^here  it  was  plain  well- 
directed  effort  would  ultimately  seciu'e  its  ease, 
its  dignity,  and  its  refinements.  Poor  in  the 
past,  and  Avith  scarce  a  hope,  without  a  change 
of  place,  of  a  better  condition  of  earthly  ex- 
istence, either  for  themselves  or  their  offspring, 
they  saw  tliemselves,  tvith  that  change,  rich 
in  the  future,  and  looked  forward  with  cer- 
tainty to  a  time  ^vhen  their  children,  if  not 
themselves,  Avould  be  in  a  condition  improved 
beyond  compare. 

"  There  was  also  a  third  class  of  pioneers,  who 
ill  several  respects  differed  as  much  from  either 
i\\e  first  or  the  second  class,  as  these  differed 
from  each  other.  This  class  was  composed,  in 
great  pai*t,  of  men  who  came  to  Kentucky  after 
the  way  had  been  in  some  measure  prepared  for 
immigrants,  and  yet  before  the  setting  in  of  that 
tide  of  population  which,  a  year  or  two  after 
the  close  of  the  American  Revolution,  poured 
so  rapidly  into  these  fertile  regions  from  several 


74  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

of  the  Atlantic  States.  In  this  class  of  immi^ 
gi-ants,  there  were  many  gentlemen  of  educa- 
tion, refinement,  and  no  inconsiderable  wealth; 
some  of  whom  came  to  Kentucky  as  surveyors, 
othei^  as  commissioners  from  the  pai^ent  State, 
and  others  again  as  land  speculators ;  but  most 
of  them  as  lona-ph  immigrants,  determined  to 
pitch  their  tents  in  the  Great  West,  at  once  to 
become  units  of  a  new  people,  and  to  grow  into 
affluence,  and  consideration,  and  renoAvn,  mth 
the  growth  of  a  young  and  vigorous  common- 
wealth. 

''  Such  were  the  founders  of  Kentucky  ;  and 
in  them  we  behold  the  elements  of  a  society  in- 
ferior, in  all  the  essentials  of  goodness  and  great- 
ness, to  none  in  the  world.  First  came  the 
hunter  and  trapper,  to  trace  the  river  courses, 
and  spy  out  the  choice  spots  of  the  land  ;  then 
came  the  small  farmer  and  the  hardy  adventurer, 
to  cultivate  the  rich  plains  discovered,  and  lay 
the  nuclei  of  the  to^\Tis  and  cities,  which  wer^ 
so  soon,  and  so  rapidly,  to  spring  up ;  and  then 
came  the  surveyor,  to  mark  the  boundaries  of 
individual  possessions  and  give  civil  shape  and 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  75 

Btrengtii  to  the  unformed  mass,  the  speculator 
to  impart  a  new  activity  and  keenness  to  the 
minds  of  men,  and  the  chivalrous  and  educated 
gentleman,  to  infuse  into  the  crude  materials 
here  collected  together  the  feelings  and  senti- 
ments of  refined  existence,  and  to  mould  them 
into  forms  of  conventional  beauty  and  social 
excellence.  Kentucky  now  began  to  have  a 
society^  in  which  were  the  sinews  of  war,  the 
power  of  production,  and  the  genius  of  improve  - 
ment ;  and  from  this  time,  though  still  harassed, 
as  she  had  been  from  the  beginning,  by  the  in- 
roads of  a  brave  and  determined  enemy  on  her 
north  her  advancement  was  regular  and  rapid." 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

Daniel  Boone  sets  out  for  Kentucky  with  his  family  and  his 
brother  Squire  Boone— Is  joined  by  five  families  and  forty 
men  at  Powell's  Valley— The  party  is  attacked  by  Indians 
and  Daniel  Boone's  oldest  son  is  killed— The  party  returns 
to  the  settlements  on  Clinch  River— Boone,  at  the  request 
of  Governor  Dunmore,  goes  to  the  West  and  conducts  a 
party  of  surveyors  to  Virginia — Boone  receives  the  com- 
mand of  three  garrisons  and  the  commission  of  captain — 
He  takes  a  part  in  the  Dunmore  war— Battle  of  Point 
Pleasant  and  termination  of  the  war. 

Having  completed  all  his  arrangements  for 
the  journey,  on  the  25th  of  September,  1774, 
Daniel  Boone,  mth  his  wife  and  children,  set 
out  on  his  journey  to  the  West.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  his  brother.  Squire  Boone ;  and 
the  party  took  mth  them  cattle  and  swine  with 
a  view  to  the  stocking  of  their  farms,  when  they 
should  arrive  in  Kentucky.  Their  bedding  and 
other  baggage  was  carried  by  pack-horses. 

At  a  place  called  Powell's  Valley,  the  party 

was  reinforced  by  another  body  of  emigrants  to 
76 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  'TY 

tlie  West  consisting  of  five  families  and  no  less 
tlian  fort}^  able-bodied  men ;  well  armed  and 
provided  with  provisions  and  ammunition. 

Tliey  now  went  on  in  Ligli  spirits,  "  camping 
out  "  every  night  in  woods,  under  the  shelter  of 
rude  tents  constructed  ^vith  poles  covered  wdth 
bed-clothes.  They  thus  advanced  on  their 
journey  without  accident  or  alarm,  until  the  6th 
of  October,  when  they  were  approaching  a  pass 
in  the  mountains,  called  Cumberland  Gap.  The 
young  men  who  were  engaged  in  diiving  the 
cattle  had  fallen  in  rear  of  the  main  body  a  dis- 
tance of  ^ve  or  six  miles,  when  they  were  sud- 
denly assailed  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed 
six  of  their  'number  and  dispelled  the  cattle 
in  the  woods.  A  seventh  man  escaped  ^vith  a 
wound  The  reports  of  the  musketry  brought 
the  remainder  of  the  party  to  the  rescue,  who 
drove  off  the  Indians  and  buried  the  dead. 
Among  the  slain  was  the  oldest  son  of  Daniel 
Boone. 

A  council  was  now  held  to  determine  on 
their  future  proceedings.  Notwithstanding  the 
dreadful  domestic  misfortune  which  he  had  ex- 


78  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

perienced  in  the  loss  of  his  son,  Daniel  Boone 
was  for  proceeding  to  Kentucky  ;  in  this  opinion 
he  was  sustained  by  his  brother  and  some  of  the 
other  emigrants;  but  most  of  them  were  so 
much  disheartened  by  the  misfortune  they  had 
met  with,  that  they  insisted  on  returning ;  and 
Boone  and  his  brother  yielding  to  their  wishes, 
returned  to  the  settlement  on  the  Clinch  River 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Virginia,  a  distance 
of  forty  miles  from  the  place  where  they  had 
been  surprised  by  the  Indians. 

Here  Boone  was  obliged  to  remain  with  his 
family  for  the  present ;  but  he  had  by  no  means 
relinquished  his  design  of  settling  in  Kentucky. 
This  delay,  however,  was  undoubtedly  a  provi- 
dential one ;  for  in  consequence  of  the  murder 
of  the  family  of  the  Indian  chief  Logan,  a  ter- 
rible Indian  war,  called  in  histor}^  the  Dunmore 
Wai^,  was  impending,  which  broke  out  in  the 
succeeding  year,  and  extended  to  that  part  of 
the  West  to  which  Boone  and  his  pai*ty  were 
proceeding,  when  they  were  turned  back  by  the 
attack  of  the  Indians. 

In  this  war  Daniel  Boone  was  destined  to 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  T9 

take  an  active  part.  In  liis  autobiography, 
already  quoted,  he  says : 

"  I  remained  with  my  family  on  Clinch  until 
the  6 til  of  June,  1774,  when  I  and  one  Michael 
Stoner  were  solicited  by  Governor  Dunmore,  of 
Virginia,  to  go  to  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  to  con- 
duct into  the  settlement  a  number  of  surveyors 
that  had  been  sent  thither  by  him  some  months 
before;  this  country  having  about  this  time 
drawn  the  attention  of  many  adventurers.  We 
immediately  complied  with  the  governor's  re- 
quest, and  conducted  in  the  surveyors,  complet- 
ing a  tour  of  eight  hundred  miles,  through  many 
difficulties,  in  sixty-two  days  ! 

"  Soon  after  I  returned  home,  I  was  ordered 
to  take  command  of  three  garrisons,  during  the 
campaign  which  Governor  Dunmore  carried  on 
against  the  Shawanese  Indians." 

These  three  garrisons  were  on  the  frontier 
contiguous  to  each  other;  and  with  the  com- 
mand of  them  Boone  received  a  commission  as 
captain. 

We  quote  from  a  contemporary  an  account  of 
the  leading  events  of  this  campaign,  and  of  the 


80  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  wMcli  may  be  said  to 
have  terminated  the  war.  A^Hietlier  Boone  was 
present  at  this  battle  is  uncertain  ;  but  his  well- 
kno^vn  character  for  ability  and  courage  renders 
it  probable  that  he  took  a  part  in  the  action. 

"  The  settlers,  noAV  aware  that  a  general  war- 
fare would  be  commenced  by  the  Indians,  imme- 
diately sent  an  express  to  Williamsburg,  the  seat 
of  government  in  Virginia,  communicating  their 
apprehensions  and  soliciting  protection. 

"The  Legislature  was  in  session  at  the  time, 
and  it  was  immediately  resolved  upon  to  raise 
an  army  of  about  three  thousand  men,  and  march 
into  the  heart  of  the  Indian  countiy. 

"  One  half  of  the  requisite  number  of  troops 
was  ordered  to  be  raised  in  Virginia,  and  marched 
under  General  AndreAV  Lewis  across  the  country 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha ;  and  the  remainder 
to  be  rendezvoused  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  be  com- 
manded by  Dunmore  in  person,  w^ho  proposed 
to  descend  the  Ohio  and  join  Lewis  at  the  place 
mentioned,  from  where  the  combined  army  was 
to  march  as  circumstances  might  dictate  at  the 
time. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  SI 

*'By  tlie  llth  of  Septeml)er  the  troops  under 
General  Lewis,  numbering  about  eleven  bundled 
men,  were  in  readiness  to  leave.  The  distance 
across  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha,  ^vas  near 
one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  through  an  un- 
broken wilderness.  A  competent  guide  was 
isecured,  the  baggage  mounted  on  pack  horses, 
and  in  nineteen  days  they  arrived  at  the  place 
of  destination. 

"  The  next  morning  after  the  arrival  of  the 
army  at  Point  Pleasant,  as  the  point  of  the  land 
at  the  junction  of  the  Kanawha  and  the  Ohio 
was  called,  two  men  were  out  some  distance 
from  the  camp,  in  pursuit  of  a  deer,  and  were 
suddenly  fired  upon  by  a  large  body  of  Indians ; 
one  was  killed,  and  the  other  with  difficulty 
retreated  back  to  the  army,  who  hastily  reported 
'  that  he  had  seen  a  body  of  the  enemy  covering 
four  acres  of  ground,  as  closely  as  they  could 
stand  by  the  side  of  each  other.' 

''  General  Lewis  was  a  remarkably  cool  and 
considerate  man;  and  upon  being  informed  of 
this,  *  after  deliberately  lighting  his  pipe,'  gave 
orders   that   the   regiment   under   his  brother, 


82  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONfi. 

Colonel  Cliai'les  Lewis,  and  another  under  Colo- 
nel Flemiiig,  should  march  and  reconnoiter  the 
enemy,  Avhile  he  wonld  place  the  remainder  of 
the  troops  in  order  for  battle.  The  two  regi- 
ments marched  without  delay,  and  had  not  pro- 
ceeded more  than  four  hundred  yards  when 
they  were  met  by  the  Indians,  approaching  for 
the  same  piu^ose.  A  skinnish  immediately 
ensued,  and  before  the  contest  had  continued 
long,  the  colonels  of  the  tw^o  regiments  fell 
mortally  w^oimded,  w^hen  a  disorder  in  the  ranks 
followed,  and  the  troops  began  a  precipitate 
retreat ;  but  almost  at  this  moment  another  regi- 
ment under  Colonel  Field  aniving  to  their  aid 
and  coming  up  ^vith  great  firamess  to  the  attack, 
effectually  checked  the  savages  in  the  pursuit, 
and  obliged  them  in  turn  to  give  way  till  they 
had  retired  behind  a  breastwork  of  logs  and 
brush  which  they  had  partially  constructed. 

"Lewis,  on  his  arrival  at  the  place,  had  en- 
camped quite  on  the  point  of  land  between  the 
Ohio  and  Kanawha,  and  having  moved  but 
a  short  distance  out  to  the  attack,  the  distance 
across  from  river  to  river  was  .still  but  short. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  83 

The  Indians  soon  extending  their  ranks  entirely 
across,  had  the  Virginians  completely  hemmed 
in,  and  in  the  event  of  getting  the  better  of 
them,  had  them  at  their  disposal,  as  there  could 
have  been  no  chance  for  escape. 

"Never  was  ground  maintained  with  more 
obstinacy ;  for  it  was  slowly,  and  with  no  pre- 
cipitancy, that  the  Indians  retired  to  their 
breastwork.  The  division  under  Lewis  was 
iii^st  broken,  although  that  under  Fleming  was 
nearly  at  the  same  moment  attacked.  This 
heroic  officer  iii^st  received  two  balls  through 
his  left  wrist,  but  continued  to  exercise  his  com- 
mand with  the  greatest  coolness  and  presence 
of  mind.  His  voice  was  continually  heard, 
'  Don't  lose  an  inch  of  ground.  Advance,  out- 
flank the  enemy,  and  get  between  them  and  the 
liver.'  But  his  men  were  about  to  be  out- 
flanked by  the  body  that  had  just  defeated 
Lewis.  Meanwhile  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Field 
tui'iied  the  fortune  of  the  day,  but  not  without  a 
severe  loss.  Colonel  Fleming  was  again  wound- 
ed, by  a  shot  through  the  lungs ;  yet  he  would 
not  retire,  and  Colonel  Field  was  killed  as  he 


84  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

was  leading  on  Ms  men.  The  whole  line  of  the 
breastwork  now  became  as  a  blaze  of  fii^e,  which 
lasted  nearly  till  the  close  of  the  day.  Here 
the  Indians  under  Logan,  Cornstock,  Elenipsico^ 
Red-Eagle,  and  other  mighty  chiefs  of  the  tribes 
of  the  Shawanese,  Delawares,  Mingos,  AVyan- 
dots,  and  Cayugas,  amounting,  as  was  supposed, 
to  fifteen  hundred  warriors,  fought,  as  men  will 
ever  do  for  their  country's  wrongs,  mth  a  brav- 
ery which  could  only  be  equaled.  The  voice  of 
the  great  Cornstock  was  often  heard  during  the 
day,  above  the  din  of  strife,  calling  on  his  men 
in  these  words :  '  Be  strong  !  Be  strong  ! '  And 
when  by  the  repeated  charges  of  the  whites, 
some  of  his  warriors  began  to  waver,  he  is  said 
to  have  sunk  his  tomaha^vk  into  the  head  of  one 
who  was  basely  endeavoring  to  desert.  General 
Lewis,  finding  at  length  that  every  charge  upon 
the  lines  of  the  Indians  lessened  the  number  of 
his  forces  to  an  alarming  degree,  and  rightly 
judging  that  if  the  Indians  were  not  routed  be- 
fore it  was  dark,  a  day  of  more  doubt  might 
follo\>^,  he  resolved  to  throw  a  body,  if  possible, 
into  their  rear.     As  the  rrood  fortune  of  the 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  85 

Virginians  tiuiied,  the  hank  of  the  river  fa- 
vored this  project,  and  forthwith  three  com- 
panies Avere  detached  upon  the  enterprise,  under 
the  three  captains,  Isaac  Shelby  (after  renowned 
in  the  revolution,  and  since  in  the  war  with 
Canada),  George  Matthews,  and  John  Stewart. 
These  companies  got  unobserved  to  their  place 
of  destination  upon  Crooked  Creek,  which  nms 
into  the  Kanawha.  From  the  high  weeds  upon 
the  bank  of  this  little  stream,  they  rushed  upon 
the  backs  of  the  Indians  with  such  fury,  as  to 
drive  them  from  their  works  with  precipitation. 
The  day  was  now  decided.  The  Indians,  thus 
beset  from  a  quarter  they  did  not  expect, 
were  ready  to  conclude  that  a  reinforcement 
had  arrived.  It  was  about  sunset  when 
they  fled  across  the  Ohio,  and  immediately 
took  up  their  march  for  their  to^vns  on  the 
Scioto." 

Of  the  loss  of  both  Indians  and  whites  in  this 
engagement,  various  statements  have  been  given. 
A  number  amounting  to  seven ty-iive  killed  and 
one  hundred  and  forty  wounded  of  the  ^vhites 
has  been  rendered ;  with  a  loss  on  part  of  the 


86  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Indians  not  so  gi^eat,  but  not  correctly  known,* 
This  was  the  severest  battle  ever  fought  with 
the  Indians  in  Virginia.  Shortly  after  this 
battle  the  Indians  sent  messengers  to  Governor 
Dunmore,  suing  for  peace,  and  a  treaty  was  ac- 
cordingly concluded.  In  this  treaty  the  Indians 
surrendered  all  claim  to  Kentucky.  The  Six 
Nations  had  already  done  the  same  thing  at  the 
Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  in  1768.  The  Chero- 
kees  had  sold  their  claims  to  Henderson's  com- 
pany ;  so  that  when  Boone  settled  in  Kentucky 
it  was  effectually  cleared  of  all  Indian  titles. 

•  **  History  of  the  Backwoods." 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

The  militia  discharged— Captain  Boone  returns  to  his  family 
— Henderson's  company — Various  companies  of  emigrants 
to  Kentucky— Bounty  lands— Harrod's  party  builds  the 
first  log-cabin  erected  in  Kentucky,  and  founds  Harrods- 
burg — Proceedings  of  Henderson's  company — Agency  of 
Captain  Boone — He  leads  a  company  to  open  a  road  to 
Kentucky  River — Conflicts  with  the  Indians — Captain 
Boone  founds  Boonesborough — His  own  account  of  this  ex- 
pedition—His letter  to  Henderson— Account  of  Colonel 
Henderson  and  the  Transylvania  Company— Failure  of  the 
scheme— Probability  of  Boone  having  been  several  years  in 
the  service  of  Henderson. 

On  the  conclusion  of  Dimmore's  war,  the 
militia  were  discharged  from  service,  the  gar- 
risons which  had  been  under  Captain  Daniel 
Boone's  command  were  broken  up,  and  he  once 
more  returned  to  his  family,  who  were  still 
residing  on  Clinch  River.  But  he  was  not  long 
permitted  to  remain  comparatively  idle.  Cap- 
tain Boone's  character  as  an  able  officer  and  a 
bold  pioneer  was  now  well  known  and  appre- 
ciated by  the  public.  The  marks  of  confidence 
87 


88  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

bestowed  on  liim  by  Governor  Dunmore  rendered 
liim  one  of  tbe  most  conspicuous  men  in  the 
Southern  colonies,  and  his  services  were  soon 
to  be  put  in  requisition  by  the  most  considerable 
and  remarkable  of  all  the  parties  of  adventurers 
who  ever  sought  a  home  in  the  West.  This  was 
Henderson's  company,  called  the  Transylvania 
Company,  to  whose  proceedings  we  shall  pres- 
ently refer. 

Between  1769  and  1773,  various  associations  of 
men  were  fonned,  in  Virginia  and  North  Caro- 
lina, for  visiting  the  newly-discovered  regions 
and  locating  lands  ;  and  several  daring  adven- 
turers at  different  times  during  tliis  period  pene- 
trated to  the  head-waters  of  the  Licking  Elver, 
and  did  some  surveying  ;  but  it  was  not  till  the 
year  1774  that  the  w^hites  obtained  any  perma- 
nant  foothold  in  Kentucky.  From  this  year, 
therefore,  properly  dates  the  commencement  of 
the  early  settlements  of  the  State.* 

The  first  great  impetus  given  to  adventure  in 
Kentucky  ^vas  by  the  bounty  in  Western  lands 
given  by  Virginia  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 

*  Gallagher. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  89 

her  own  troops  Avho  had  served  in  the  British 
array  in  the  old  war  in  Canada  between  the 
English  and  French.  These  lands  ^\  ere  to  be 
surveyed  on  the  Ohio  Ri^^er  and  its  tributaries 
by  the  claimants  thus  created,  who  had  the  priv- 
ilege of  selecting  them  wherever  they  pleased 
within  the  prescribed  regions.  The  first  loca- 
tions were  made  upon  the  Great  Kanawha  in 
the  year  1772  and  the  next  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Ohio  itself  the  following  year.  During  this 
year  likew^ise,  extensive  tracts  of  land  were  lo- 
cated on  the  north  fork  of  the  Licking,  and 
surveys  made  of  several  salt  licks,  and  other 
choice  spots.  But  1774  was  more  signalized 
than  had  been  any  preceding  year  by  the  arri- 
val, in  the  new  "  land  of  promise,"  of  the  claim- 
ants to  portions  of  its  territory,  and  the  execu- 
tion of  surveys.  Among  the  hardy  adventurers 
who  descended  the  Ohio  this  year  and  penetrated 
to  the  interior  of  Kentucky  by  the  river  of  that 
name,  was  James  Harrod,  wdio  led  a  party  of 
Vii'ginians  from  the  shores  of  the  Monongahela. 
He  disembarked  at  a  point  still  known  as 
"  Harrod's  Landing,"  and,  crossing  the   country 


90  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

in  a  direction  nearly  west,  paused  in  the  midst  of 
a  beautiful  and  fertile  region,  and  huilt  the  first 
log-cabin  ever  erected  in  Kentucky,  on  or  neai' 
the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Harrodsburg. 
This  was  in  the  spring,  or  early  part  of  the  sum- 
mer, of  1774  * 

The  high-wrought  descriptions  of  tlie  country- 
northwest  of  the  Laurel  Ridge,  which  were 
given  by  Daniel  Boone  upon  his  return  to  North 
Carolina  after  his  first  long  visit  to  Kentucky,  cir- 
culated with  great  rapidity  throughout  the  entire 
State,  exciting  the  avarice  of  speculators  and  in 
flaming  the  imaginations  of  nearly  all  classes  of 
people.  The  organization  of  several  companies, 
for  the  purpose  of  pushing  adventure  in  the  new 
regions  and  acquiring  rights  to  land,  was  imme- 
diately attempted  ;  but  that  which  commenced 
under  the  auspices  of  Colonel  Richard  Hendei^on, 
a  gentleman  of  education  and  means,  soon  en- 
gaged public  attention  by  the  extent  and  bold- 
ness of  its  scheme,  and  the  energy  of  its  move- 
ments ;  and  either  frightened  fi'om  their  purpose, 
or  attracted  to  its  own  ranks,  the  principal  of 

♦  GaUagher. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  91 

those  individuals   \vlio  had   at  first  been  active 
in  endeavoring  to  form  other  associations. 

The  wliole  of  tliat  vast  extent  of  country  lying 
withiu    the  natural  boundaries   constituted  by 
the  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Cumberland  rivers,  was 
at  tliis  time  claimed  by  a  portion  of  the  Cherokee 
Indians,  who  resided  within  the  limits  of  North 
Carolina  ;  and  the  scheme  of  Henderson's  com- 
pany  was  nothing  less  than  to  take  possession  of 
this  inunense  tenitory,  under  color  of  a  purchase 
from   those    Indians,  which    they  intended   to 
make,    and  the    preliminary    negotiations    for 
which  were  opened  with  the  Cherokees,  through 
the  agency  of  Daniel  Boone,  as  soon  as  the  com- 
pany was  fully  organized.     Boone's  mission  to 
the  Indians  ha^ang  been  attended  with  complete 
success,  and  the  result  thereof  being  conveyed  to 
the  company,  Colonel  Henderson  at  once  started 
for  Port  "Wataga,  on  a  branch  of  the  Holston 
River,  fully   authorized  to  effect  the  purchase  ; 
and  here,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1775,  he  met 
the  Indians  In  solemn  council,  delivered  them  a 
satisfactory  consideration  in  merchandise,  and 
received  a  deed  signed  by  their  head  chiefs. 


92  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

The  pui-cliase  made,  the  next  important  step 
was  to  take  possession  of  the  territory  thus  ac- 
quired. The  proprietors  were  not  slow  to  do 
this,  but  immediately  collected  a  small  company 
of  brave  and  hardy  men,  which  they  sent  into 
Kentucky,  under  the  direction  of  Daniel  Boone, 
to  open  a  road  from  the  Holston  to  the  Ken- 
tucky River,  and  erect  a  Station  at  the  mouth 
of  Otter  Creek  upon  this  latter. 

After  a  laborious  and  hazardous  inarch 
through  the  wilderness,  during  which  four  men 
were  killed,  and  five  others  wounded,  by  trail- 
ing and  skulking  parties  of  hostile  Indians, 
Eoone  and  his  company  reached  the  banks  of 
the  KcDtucky  on  the  first  of  April,  and  descend- 
ing this  some  fifteen  miles,  encamped  upon  the 
spot  where  Boonesborough  now  stands.  Here 
the  bushes  were  at  once  cut  down,  the  ground 
leveled,  the  nearest  trees  felled,  the  foundations 
laid  for  a  fort,  and  the  first  settlement  of  Ken- 
tucky commenced. 

Perhaps  the  reader  would  like  to  see  Boone's 
own  account  of  these  proceedings.  Here  is  the 
passage  ^vhere  he  mentions   it   in   his   autobi- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  95 

ogi'aphy.  He  has  just  been  speaking  of  Gov- 
ernor Dunmore's  war  against  the  Shawanese 
Indians  :  "  After  the  conclusion  of  which,  he 
says,  the  militia  was  discharged  from  each  gar- 
rison, and  I  being  relieved  from  my  post,  was 
solicited  by  a  number  of  North  Carolina  gentle- 
men, that  were  about  purchasing  the  lands  lying 
on  the  south  side  of  Kentucky  River  from  the 
Cherokee  Indians,  to  attend  thoir  treaty  at 
AVataga,  in  March,  1775,  to  negotiate  with 
them,  and  mention  the  boundaries  of  the  pur- 
chase. This  I  accepted  ;  and  at  the  request  of 
the  same  gentlemen,  undertook  to  mark  out  a 
road  in  the  best  passage  through  the  wilderness 
to  Kentucky  with  such  assistance  as  I  thought 
necessaiy  to  employ  for  such  an  important  un- 
dertaking. 

"  I  soon  began  this  ^vork,  having  collected  a 
number  of  enterprising  men,  well  armed.  We 
proceeded  with  all  possible  expedition  until  we 
came  within  fifteen  miles  of  where  Boones- 
borough  now  stands,  and  where  we  were  fired 
upon  by  a  party  of  Indians,  that  killed  two 
and  wounded  two  of  our  number  ;  yet,  although 


94  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

surprised  and  taken  at  a  disadvantage,  we  stood 
our  ground.  This  was  on  tlie  twentieth  of 
March,  1775.  Three  days  after  we  were  fired 
upon  again,  and  had  two  men  killed  and  three 
wounded.  Afterward  we  proceeded  on  to  Ken- 
tucky River  without  opposition,  and  on  the 
fifth  day  of  x\pril  began  to  erect  the  fort  of 
Boonesborough  at  a  salt-lick,  about  sixty  yards 
from  the  river,  on  the  south  side." 

"  On  the  fourth  day,  the  Indians  killed  one 
of  our  men.  AVe  were  busily  engaged  in  build- 
ing the  fort,  until  the  foui-teenth  day  of  June 
following,  without  any  further  opposition  from 
the  Indians." 

In  addition  to  this  account  by  Captain  Boone, 
we  have  another  in  a  sort  of  official  report  made 
by  him  to  Colonjel  Richard  Henderson,  the  head 
of  the  company  in  whose  service  Boone  was 
then  employed.  It  is  cited  by  Peck  in  his  Life 
of  Boone  as  follows : 

f  ''April  im,  1775. 

"  Dear  Colonel  :  After  my  compliments  to 
j^ou,  I  shall  acquaint  you  with  oui'  misfoi*tune. 


T.IFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE,  95 

On  March  the  25th  a  party  of  Indians  fired  on 
my  company  about  half  an  hour  before  day,  and 
killed  Mr.  Twitty  and  his  negro,  and  wounded 
Mr.  Walker  very  deeply;  but  I  hope  he  will 
recover. 

''  On  March  the  28th,  as  we  were  hunting  for 
provisions,  we  found  Samuel  Tate's  son,  who 
gave  us  an  account  that  the  Indians  fired  on 
their  camp  on  the  27th  day.  My  brother  and 
I  went  down  and  found  two  men  killed  and 
scalped,  Thomas  McDoAvell  and  Jeremiah  Mc- 
Peters.  I  have  sent  a  man  down  to  all  the 
lower  companies  in  order  to  gather  them  all  to 
the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek.  My  advice  to  you, 
sir,  is  to  come  or  send  as  soon  as  possible.  Your 
company  is  desired  greatly,  for  the  people  are 
very  uneasy,  but  are  willing  to  stay  and  venture 
their  lives  with  you,  and  now  is  the  time  to 
frustrate  their  (the  Indians,)  intentions,  and 
keep  the  countiy  whilst  we  are  in  it.  If  we 
give  w^ay  to  them  now,  it  will  ever  be  the  case, 
This  day  w^e  start  from  the  battle-ground  for 
the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek,  where  we  shall  im- 
mediately  erect  a  fort  which  will  be  done  before 


96  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

you  can  come  or  send ;  then  we  can  send  ten 
men  to  meet  you  if  you  send  for  them. 
"  I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient, 

"Daniel  Boone. 

**  N.  B. — We  stood  on  the  ground  and  guard, 
ed  our  baggage  till  day,  and  lost  nothing.  We 
have  about  fifteen  miles  to  Cantuck,  at  Otter 
Creek.'' 

Colonel  Henderson  was  one  of  the  most 
remai^kable  men  of  his  time.  He  was  born  in 
Hanover  County,  Virginia,  April  20th,  1735,  the 
same  year  with  Boone.  He  studied  law,  and  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  North 
Carolina  under  the  Colonial  Government.  The 
troubled  times  of  the  Regulators  shut  up  the 
courts  of  justice.  In  1774  he  engaged  in  his 
grand  scheme  of  founding  the  republic  of  Tran- 
sylvania, and  united  with  liim  John  Williams, 
Leonard  Hendly  Bullock,  of  Granville  ;  William 
Johnston,  James  Hogg,  Thomas  Hart,  John 
Luttrell,  Nathaniel  Hart,  and  Dadd  Hart,  of 
Orange  County,  in  the   company   which  made 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  97 

the  purchase  of  the  immense  tract  of  lands  abore 
referred  to. 

The  company  took  possession  of  the  lands  on 
the  20th  of  April,  1775  ;  the  Indians  appointing 
an  agent  to  deliver  them  accoi'ding  to  law. 

The  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  Martin, 
issued  his  proclamation  in  1775,  declaring  this 
purchase  illegal.  The  State  subsequently 
granted  200,000  acres  to  the  company  in  lieu  of 
this. 

The  State  of  Virginia  declared  the  same,  but 
gi'anted  the  company  a  remuneration  of  200,000 
acres,  bounded  by  the  Ohio  and  Green  rivers. 
The  State  of  Tennessee  claimed  the  lands,  but 
made  a  similar  grant  to  the  company  in  Powell's 
Valle^r.  Thus,  though  the  original  scheme  of 
founding  an  independent  republic  failed,  the 
company  made  their  fortunes  by  the  speculation. 
Henderson  died  at  his  seat  in  Granville,  January 
30,  1785,  universally  beloved  and  respected. 

What   makes   Henderson  and  his  company 

particularly    interesting    to    the    admirei^   of 

Daniel  Boone  is,  the  strong  probability  that  the 

purchase  of  the  Cherokees  was  made  on  his 

I 


9.8  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

representation  and  by  his  advice.  This  is  the 
opinion  of  Judge  Hall  and  of  Mi\  Peck,  who  also 
believe  that  Boone  was  already  in  the  service  of 
Henderson  when  he  made  his  long  journey  to 
Kentucky.  "  This  theory,"  says  Mr.  Peck,  "  ex- 
plains  why  his  brother,  Squire  Boone,  came  out 
with  supplies,  and  why  they  examined  the 
country  so  fully  and  particularly  between  the 
Kentucky  and  Cumberland  rivers," 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Description  of  the  Old  Fort  at  Boonesborough-Usual  meth^ 
odB  of  fortification  against  the  Indians-Amval  o£  mo.e 
settlers  at  Boonesborougli-Captain  Boone  returns  to  the 
CUnrRiver  to  bring  out  his  tamily-He  enlists  new  emi- 
grants and  starts  for  Kentucky-Reinforced  by  a  large 
Ltv  at  Powell's  Valley-Arrival  at  Boonesborou^h-Ar- 
Hval  of  many  new  settlers  at  Boonesborough  and  Harrods 
seXment-Ai-rival  of  Kenton,  Floyd,  the  McAfees,  and 
::"«  m^inguished  persons-Arrival  of  Colonel  Richard 
Callaway. 

As  the  old  fort  at  Boonesborougli  became  so 
celebrated  in  the  Indian  wars  which  followed 
its  erection,  our  readers  may  be  curious  to  know 
what  sort  of  structure  it  was.     We  have  ac 
cordingly  copied  from  a  print  in  Collins'  His- 
torical  Sketches  of  Kentucky  a  view  of  the  fort, 
from  a  di^awing  made  by  Colonel  Henderson 
himself,  and  the  following  description :  "  It  was 
situated  adjacent  to  the  river,  with  one  of  the 
angles  resting  on  its  bank  near  the  water,  and 
extending  from  it  in  the  form  of  a  parallelo- 


loo  Lli  E  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

gram.  The  length  of  the  foi*t,  allowing  twenty 
feet  for  each  cabin  and  opening,  must  have  "been 
about  two  hundred  and  sixty  and  the  breadth 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  In  a  few  days  after 
the  work  was  commenced,  one  of  the  men  was 
killed  by  the  Indians."  The  houses,  being  built 
of  hewn  logs,  were  bullet-proof.  They  ^vere  of 
a  square  form,  and  one  of  them  projected  from 
each  corner,  being  connected  by  stockades.  The 
remaining  space  on  the  four  sides,  as  wW]  be 
seen  by  the  engraving,  was  filled  up  with  cabins 
erected  of  rough  logs,  placed  close  together. 
The  gates  were  on  opposite  sides,  made  of  thick 
slabs  of  timber,  and  hung  on  wooden  hinges. 
This  was  in  accordance  mth  the  fashion  of  the 
day. 

"  A  fort,  in  those  rude  military  times,"  says 
Butler,*  "  consisted  of  pieces  of  timber  sharp- 
ened at  the  end,  and  firmly  lodged  in  the 
ground:  rows  of  these  pickets  enclosed  the 
desired  space,  which  embraced  the  cabins  of  the 
inhabitants.  A  block-house  or  more,  of  su- 
perior care  and  strength,  commanding  the  sides 

*  History  of  Kentucky, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^  1(>1 

of  the  fort,  with  or  without  a  ditch,  completed 
the  fortifications  or  Stations,  as  they  were  called. 
Generally  the  sides  of  the  interior  cabins  formed 
the  sides  of  the  fort.  Slight  as  this  advance 
was  in  the  art  of  war,  it  was  more  than  suffi- 
cient against  attacks  of  small  arms  in  the  hands 
of  such  desultory  warriors  as  their  irregular 
supply  of  pro\nsions  necessarily  rendered  the 
Indians.  Such  Avas  the  nature  of  the  military 
structures  of  the  provision  against  their  enemies. 
They  were  ever  more  formidable  in  the  cane- 
brakes  and  in  the  woods  than  before  even  these 
imperfect  fortifications." 

We  have  seen  in  Boone's  own  account  that 
the  fort  at  Boonesborough  was  completed  on 
the  14th  of  June,  1774:.  The  buildings  neces- 
sary for  the  accommodation  aud  safety  of  the 
little  colony,  and  of  the  relatives  and  friends  by 
whom  they  expected  to  be  joined  during  the 
summer  and  fall,  were  completed  about  this 
time.  Colonel  Henderson,  Mr.  John  Luttrell, 
and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Hart,  three  of  the  proprie- 
tors, arrived  at  the  station,  which  was  now 
named   Boonesborough,  in  compliment  to  the 


102  LIFE  OF  l^AXIEL  BOONE. 

intrepid  pioneer.  These  gentlemen  brought 
ont  with  them  between  thirty  and  forty  new 
settlers,  a  goodly  number  of  pack-horses,  and 
some  of  the  neeessanes  of  civilized  life  ;  and  the 
Station,  upon  which  various  improvements  were 
soon  made,  at  once  became  quite  a  bustling, 
life-like,  important  military  place.  Much 
pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  he  had  com- 
menced the  settlement  of  a  new  commonwealth, 
and  laid  the  foundations  of  what  he  doubted 
not  was  soon  to  become  a  great  city,  Boone 
took  a  part  of  his  men  and  returned  to  the  set- 
tlement on  Clinch  River,  for  the  purpose  of 
setting  an  example  to  others  by  moving  out  his 
own  family. 

The  daring  pioneer  was  now  in  high  spirits, 
and  more  than  ever  enraptm^ed  with  the  deep 
forests  and  rich  plains  of  Kentucky.  He 
sounded  their  praises  without  intermission 
among  the  settlers  on  Clinch  River,  and  soon 
induced  a  number  of  persons  to  agree  to  accom- 
pany him  on  his  retain  to  Boonesborough.  He 
then  went  about  making  his  domestic  arrange- 
ments, for  a  final  removal  to  Kentucky,  with 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  103 

great  energy ;  and  these  being  soon  completed^ 
in  September  or  October  he  turned  his  back 
upon  his  old  home  forever,  and  started  with  his 
family  and  a  iew  followers  to^vard  that  which 
his  unsurpassed  daring  and  rude  skill  had  pre- 
pared for  them  in  a  new  land.  In  Powell's 
Valley  he  found  Hugh  McGary,  Eichard  Hogan, 
and  Thomas  Denton,  ^vith  their  families  and 
followers,  awaiting  hi s  arri v  al.  His  companions, 
as  now  increased,  amounted  to  tw^enty-six  men, 
four  women,  and  four  or  five  boys  and  girls, 
perhaps  half-gTo^^ni ;  and  placing  himself  at  the 
head  of  this  interesting  little  colony,  he  proudly 
led  it  through  the  Cumberland  Gap  into  the 
wilderness  beyond,  where  it  was  destined  to  be 
the  germ  of  a  great  State. 

When  this  pai*ty  had  anived  at  the  head  of 
Dick's  River,  McGary,  Denton,  and  Hogan,  with 
their  families  and  a  few  followers,  separated 
themselves  from  the  rest,  and  struck  through 
the  forest  for  the  spot  where  Harrod  and  his 
Monongahelians  had  built  their  cabin  the  year 
before.  Boone,  with  the  main  body  of  the  party, 
continued  his  original  course,  and  in  due  time 


J  04  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

aiTived  safely  at  Boonesborougli ;  "and  Mrs. 
Boone  and  Iter  daughter,"  it  is  always  recorded 
with  an  air  of  pleasant  exultation  by  tlie  admirers 
of  the  old  pioneer,  "were  the  earliest  white 
women  in  that  region,  and  the  first  of  their  sex 
and  color  that  ever  stood  upon  the  banks  of  the 
wild  and  beautiful  Kentucky." 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1775,  a 
great  many  adventurers  and  surveyors,  princi- 
pally from  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  made 
their  appearance  in  Kentucky ;  and  for  all  such 
Boonesborougli  was  a  place  of  general  rendez- 
vous. Some  united  themselves  to  Boone's  col- 
ony, and  remained  permanently  at  his  Station : 
others  clustered  around  Harrod's  Old  Cabin, 
and  the  Fort  which  had  by  this  time  been  erected 
by  Logan,  and  made  "improvements"  in  the 
vicinity  of  each  ;  but  most  of  them  returned  to 
their  several  homes  after  having  made  such 
locations  and  surveys  as  they  thought  proper. 
Among  those  by  whom  Boone  was  visited  in 
the  course  of  this  year  were  several  men  who 
have  subsequently  rendered  very  important 
ser\'ices  in  the  settlement  of  the  West,  and  t^t- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  105 

tained  great  and  deserved  celebrity :  such  were 
Simon  Kenton,  John  Floyd,  the  four  brothers 
McAfee,  and  others.  A  tolerably  good  road, 
sufficient  for  the  passage  of  pack-horses  in  single 
file,  had  been  opened  from  the  settlements  on 
the  Holston  to  Boonesborough,  by  the  party 
which  Boone  led  out  early  in  the  following 
spring,  and  this  now  became  the  thoroughfare 
for  other  adventurers,  a  number  of  whom  re- 
moved their  families  from  North  Carolina  to 
Kentucky,  and  settled  at  Boonesborough,  dur- 
ing tlie  fall  and  winter  of  this  year.  Colonel 
Richard  Callaway  was  one  of  these,  and  there 
were  others  of  equal  respectability. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Disturbed  state  of  the  country  in  1775— Breaking  out  of  the 
Revolutionary  war — Exposed  situation  of  the  Kentucky 
settlements— Hostility  of  the  Indians  excited  by  the  Brit- 
ish— First  political  convention  in  the  West — Capture  of 
Boone's  daughter  and  the  daughters  of  Colonel  Callavvay  by 
the  Indians — Their  rescue  by  a  party  led  by  Boone  and  Cal- 
laway— Increased  caution  of  the  colonists  at  Boonesborough 
— Alarm  and  desertion  of  the  Colonies  in  the  West  by  land 
speculators  and  other  adventurers — A  reinforcement  of 
forty-five  men  from  North  Carolina  arrive  at  Boones- 
borough—Indian  attack  on  Boonesborough  in  April— An- 
other attack  in  July— Attack  on  Logan's  Fort,  and  siege- 
Attack  on  Harrodsburg. 

The  reader  will  iiot  fail  to  remai^k  that  the 
period  at  which  Daniel  Boone  commenced  the 
settlement  of  Kentucky  was  the  most  eventful 
one  in  the  history  of  our  country.  In  the  year 
1775  hostilities  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
American  Colonies  commenced  at  Lexington 
and  Concord,  and  the  whole  country  was 
mustering  in  arms  at  the  time  when  Boone  and 
the  other  Western  emigrants  were  forming  settle- 
ments four  hundred  miles  beyond  the  frontieii 
106 


LiPE  OF  DAxNIEl.  BOO.NE.  10? 

of  Vii'gmia  and  tlie  Carolinas.     Encouraged  by 
the  treaty  of  Lord  Dunmore  with  the  Indians 
in  1774,  and  knowing  the  Indian  titles  to  the 
lands  they  were  occuxDying  to  have  been  extin- 
guished, they  naturally  counted  on  an  unmolested 
possession   of   the   region   they   were   settling. 
But  in  this  expectation  they  were  sorely  disa^)- 
pointed.      The  English  officers  and  agents  in 
the  Northwest  were  indefatigable  in  stimulating 
the  Indians  to  attack  the  American  colonists  in 
every  quarter.     They  supplied  them  with  arms 
and  anununition,  bribed  them  with  money,  and 
aided  and  encouraged  them  to  attack  the  feeble 
settlements  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.     But 
Providence   overruled   these  circumstances  for 
the   benefit   of  the  "Western   country.      "The 
settlement  of  Kentucky  led  to  the  conquest  of 
the   British   posts  in   Illinois  and  Indiana,  in 
1778,  and   eventually  threw  the  wide  valleys 
of  the  West  under  control  of   the  American 
Union."  * 

The  settlers  in  Kentucky  in  1775  were  still 
acting  under  the  belief  that  the  claims  purchased 
*  Peck,    "  Life  of  Daniel  Boone." 


108  LIFE  OF  DA^^IEL  BOONE. 

by  Henderson  and  Company  from  the  Cherokees 
were  valid,  and  that  "  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Colony  of  Transylvania "  were  really  founding 
a  political  State.  Under  this  impression  they 
took  leases  from  the  Company,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  eighteen  delegates  assembled  in 
convention  at  Boonesborough,  and  acknowl- 
edged the  Company  as  lawful  proprietors,  "  es- 
tablished courts  of  justice,  and  rules  for  proceed- 
ing therein ;  also  a  militia  law,  a  law  for  the 
preservation  of  game,  and  for  appointing  civil 
and  militia  officers."  ^*  This  was  the  first  po- 
litical convention  ever  held  in  the  Western 
Valley  for  the  f oiTaation  of  a  free  government.f 
The  winter  and  spring  of  1776  J  were  passed 
by  the  little  colony  of  Boonesborough  in  hunt- 
ing, fishing,  clearing  the  lands  immediately  con- 
tiguous to  the  station,  and  putting  in  a  crop  of 
com.     The  colonists  were  molested  but  once  by 

*  Butler.     "  History  of  Kentucky." 

f  Peck.     "  Life  of  Daniel  Boone." 

X  BIr,  Peck  mentions  the  spring  of  1776,  as  the  date  of  the 
arrival  at  Boonesborough  of  Colonel  Richard  Callaway,  and 
an  intimate  friend  of  Boone,  with  his  family,  and  the  family 
of  Benjamin  Logan,  who  had  returned  for  them  the  preced- 
ing autumn. 


LIFli  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  109 

their  enemies  during  the  winter,  when  one  n}an 
was  killed  by  a  small  band  of  marauding 
Indians,  who  suddenly  appeared  in  the  vicinity, 
and  as  suddenly  departed. 

In  the  middle  summer  months,  an  incident  of 
a  thrilling  character  occurred,  which  cast  a  deep 
but  only  momentary  shadow  upon  the  little 
society  of  Boonesborough.  This  was  the  cap- 
ture, by  some  skulking  Indians  belonging  to  a 
numerous  band  who  were  now  prowling  through 
the  woods  and  brakes  of  Kentucky,  and  occa- 
sionally approaching  the  settlements  for  the 
purpose  of  plunder,  of  three  young  females, 
members  of  the  families  of  Boone  and  Callaway. 

This  incident,  which  has  been  taken  as  the 
groundwork  of  two  or  three  Western  fictions, 
and  also  had  thrown  around  it  all  the  warm 
coloring  of  romance,  by  writers  professing  to 
deal  only  with  the  authentic,  is  thus  briefly 
related  in  the  papers  of  Colonel  John  Floyd,  as 
quoted  by  Mr.  Butler  : 

"  On  the  Tth  of  July,  1776,  the  Indians  took 
out  of  a  canoe  which  was  in  the  river,  mthin 
mgbt  of  Boonesborough,  Miss  Betsey  Callawa)^ 


1 10  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

her  sister  Frances,  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Boone.  The  last  two  were  about  thirteen  or 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  the  other  grown. 

"  The  affair  happened  late  in  the  afternoon, 
and  the  spoilers  left  the  canoe  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  from  us,  which  prevented  our 
getting  over  for  some  time  to  pursue  them.  Next 
morning  by  daylight  we  were  on  the  track,  but 
found  they  had  totally  prevented  our  following 
them  by  walking  some  distance  apart  through 
the  thickest  cane  they  could  find.  We  observed 
their  course,  however,  and  on  which  side  they 
had  left  their  sign,  and  traveled  upward  of  thirty 
miles.  We  then  imagined  that  they  would  be  less 
cautious  in  traveling,  and  made  a  turn  in  order  to 
cross  their  trace,  and  had  gone  but  a  few  miles 
before  we  found  their  tracks  in  a  buffalo-path. 

"Pursuing  this  for  the  distance  of  about 
ten  miles,  we  overtook  them  just  as  they  were 
kindling  a  fire  to  cook.  Our  study  had  been 
more  to  get  the  prisoners  without  giving  their 
captors  time  to  murder  them  after  they  should 
discover  us,  than  to  kill  the  Indians. 

"  We  discovered  each  other  nearly  at  the  same 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  HI 

time.  Four  of  our  party  fired,  and  then  all 
rushed  upon  tliem,  which  prevented  their 
caiTving  anything  away  except  one  shot-gun 
without  any  ammunition.  Mr.  Boone  and  my- 
self had  a  pretty  fair  shot,  just  as  they  began 
to  move  off.  I  am  well  convinced  I  shot  one 
through  ;  the  one  he  shot  dropped  his  gun, 
mine  had  none. 

"  The  place  ^vas  very  thick  ^sith  cane,  and 
being  so  much  elated  on  recovering  the  three 
little  broken-hearted  girls,  prevented  our  mak- 
ing any  further  search.  We  sent  them  off* 
without  moccasins,  and  not  one  of  them  with 
so  much  as  a  knife  or  a  tomahawk." 

Although  the  people  of  the  little  colony  of 
Boonesborough  were  not  aware  of  the  fact  at 
the  time,  the  marauding  Indians  who  thus  cap- 
tured Miss  Boone  and  the  Misses  Callaway,  as 
they  were  amusing  themselves  by  paddling 
about  the  foot  of  the  rock  in  the  canoe,  were 
one  of  the  many  scouting  parties  of  Indians 
who  were  scattered  about  watching  all  the  dif- 
ferent  settlements  in  Kentucky,  and  preparing 
to  attack  them.     The  incident  of  the  captui*e  of 


112  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tlie  girls  spread  an  alarm,  and  guai^ds  were 
stationed  to  defend  the  hands  who  were  engaged 
in  cultivating  the  ground. 

Toward  autumn  the  alarm  of  Indian  hostili- 
ties, and  the  knowledge  that  war  was  raging 
throughout  the  Colonies  east  of  the  mountains, 
excited  so  much  alarm,  that  some  three  hun- 
dred land  speculators  and  other  adventurers 
deserted  the  Western  country  and  returned  to 
their  old  homes.* 

AVith  the  exception  of  the  capture  of  the 
young  girls  mentioned  above,  no  incident  is  re- 
corded as  having  disturbed  the  tranquillity  of 
Boonesborough  during  the  year  1776.  An 
occasional  immigrant  added  a  new  member  to 
its  little  society,  who  assisted  in  the  labors  of 
the  hardy  colonists  on  the  surrounding  grounds. 
But  its  numbers  received  no  considerable  in- 
crease till  the  following  summer,  when  (25th 
July,  1777)  a  party  of  immigrants  from  North 
Carolina,  consisting  of  forty-iive  men,  arrived  in 
the  country,  and  took  uj)  their  first  abode  in 
the  wilderness  at  Boonesborougrli 

♦?©ck. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  113 

This  -was  a  fortunate  circumstance  for  that 
station  and  great  cause  of  rejoicing  among  all 
the  settlements,  for  there  were  none  of  them 
that  had  not  been  much  molested  by  the  In- 
dians since  the  opening  of  spring,  and  one  or 
two  of  them  had  undergone  long  and  regular 
Indian  sieges. 

Boonesborougli  had  been  surrounded  by 
about  one  hundred  of  the  enemy,  as  early  as 
the  middle  of  April,  1777,  and  fiercely  attacked. 
But  the  Indians  were  so  warmly  received  by 
the  garrison  on  this  occasion,  that  they  in  a  very 
little  time  withdrew,  having  killed  one  of  the 
settlers  and  wounded  four  others.  Their  own 
loss  could  not  be  ascertained. 

Increased  to  two  hundred  warriors,  this  party 
had  returned  to  the  attack  of  Boonesborough  on 
the  fourth  of  July.*''*  On  the  present  occasion, 
having  sent  detachments  to  alarm  and  annoy 
the  neighboring  settlements,  in  order  that  no 
reinforcements  should  be  sent  to  Boonesborough, 
the  Indians  encamped  about  the  place,  with  the 
object  of  attempting  its  reduction  by  a  regular 

*  Gallagher, 


iU  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

siege.  After  a  close  and  vigorous  attack  for  two 
(lays  and  nights,  in  which  they  succeeded  in 
killing  but  one  man  and  wounding  four  others, 
the  Indians,  losing  all  hope  of  success,  suddenly, 
and  ^vith  gi'eat  clamor,  raised  the  siege,  and 
disappeared  in  the  adjacent  forest.  Their  own 
loss  was  seven  warriors,  whose  fall  was  noted 
from  the  fort. 

After  this  attack,  Boonesborongh  was  dis- 
turbed no  more  by  the  Indians  during  the  year. 
Had  it  been  after  the  arrival  of  the  immigrants 
above  referred  to,  it  would,  in  all  probability, 
have  taught  its  indefatigable  enemies  a  lesson 
such  as  they  had  never  then  received  at  the 
hands  of  the  Kentiickians. 

But  notmthstanding  these  two  considerable 
attacks,  and  the  "  signs  "  of  Indians  in  the  sur- 
rounding forests  for  the  whole  summer,  the  men 
continued  to  clear  the  lands  adjacent  to  the 
Station,  and  to  cultivate  corn  and  garden  vege- 
tables, some  always  keeping  a  vigilant  look-out 
while  the  others  labored.  For  supplies  of  meat 
they  depended  upon  the  forests,  each  of  the  men 
taking  his  turn  as  a  hunter,  at  great  hazard. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  115 

Meantime,  the  other  settlements  in  Kentucky 
had  suffered  attacks  from  the  Indians.  Logan^s 
Fort  was  invested  by  a  force  of  one  hundred 
Indians  on  the  20th  of  May,  1777,  and  after 
sustaining  a  vigorous  siege  for  several  days,  was 
finally  relie^'ed  by  the  timely  arrival  of  a  rein- 
forcement commanded  by  Colonel  Bowman. 
On  the  7th  of  March,  1777,  the  fort  of  Harrods- 
burg,  then  called  Harrodstown,  was  assailed  by 
a  body  of  Indians,  but  they  were  speedily  driven 
off,  one  of  their  number  being  killed.  The 
whites  had  four  men  wounded,  one  of  whom 
afterward  died  of  his  wounds. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Arrival  of  George  Rogers  Clark  in  Kentucky— Anecdote  of 
his  conversation  with  Ray— Clark  and  Jones  chosen  as  del- 
egates for  the  Colonies  to  the  Virginia  Legislature— Clark's 
important  services  in  obtaining  a  political  organization  for 
Kentucky,  and  an  abundant  supply  of  gunpowder  from  the 
government  of  Virginia— Great  labor  and  difficulty  in 
bringing  the  powder  to  Harrodstown — Clark's  expedition 
against  Kaskaskias— Surprise  and  capture  of  their  fort- 
Perilous  and  difficult  march  to  Vincennes — Surprise  and 
capture  of  that  place— Extension  of  the  Virginian  settle- 
ments— Erection  of  Fort  Jefferson. 

Among  tlie  most  celebrated  pioneers  of  the 
West  was  General  George  Rogers  Clark,  who, 
at  the  time  we  are  now  writing  of,  bore  the 
rank  of  Major.  Anxious  for  the  protection  of 
the  Western  settlements,  he  ^vsiS  already  plan- 
ning his  celebrated  conquest  of  the  British  posts 
in  the  Northwest. 

He  first  came  to  Kentucky  in  1775  and  pene- 
trated to  Harrodsburg,  which  had  been  reoc- 
cupied  by  Colonel  Harrod.  In  this  A^sit,  from 
his    well-known  and  commanding   talents,   he 

was  voluntarily  placed  in  command  of  the  ir« 
116 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  117 

regular  troops  then  iu  Kentucky.     In  the  fall 
he  returned  to  Virginia,  and  came  back  again 
to  Kentucky  in  1776.     Mr.  Butler  relates  the 
following   anecdote,  received  from  the  lips  of 
General  Eay,  as  liaving  occurred  Avith  General 
Clark   upon   his    second    visit:    "I   had   come 
down,"  said  General  Eay,  ''  to  where  I  now  live 
(about  four  miles  north  of  Harrodsburg),  to 
turn  some  horses  in  the  range.     I  had  killed 
a  small  blue-wing  duck  that  was  feeding  in  my 
spring,  and  had  roasted  it  nicely  on  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  about  twenty  steps  east  of  my  house. 
After  having  taken  it  oif  to  cool,  I  was  much 
surprised  on  being  suddenly  accosted  by  a  fine 
soldierly-looking  man,  who  exclaimed,  '  How  do 
you  do,  my  little  fellow  ?     What  is  your  name  ? 
Ain't  you  afraid  of  being  in  the  Avoods  by  your- 
self  ? '     On  satisfying  his   inquiries,  I  invited 
the  traveler  to  partake  of  my  duck,  which  he 
did,  mthout  leaving  me  a  bone  to  pick,  his  ap- 
petite was  so  keen,  though  he  should  have  been 
welcome  to   all  the  game  I  could  have  killed, 
when  I  after^vard  became  acquainted  ^vith  his 
no})le  and  gallant  soul."     After  satisfying  his 


118  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  I 

questions,  he  inciuired  of  the  stranger  Ms  own 
name  and  business  in  this  remote  region.  "  My 
name  is  Clark,"  he  answered,  "  and  I  have  come 
out  to  see  ^vhat  you  brave  fellows  are  doing  in 
Kentucky,  and  to  lend  you  a  helping  hand  if 
necessaiy."  General  Kay,  then  a  boy  of  sixteen, 
conducted  Clark  to  Harrodsburg,  where  he  spent 
his  time  in  observation  on  the  condition  and 
.prospects  of  the  country,  natural  to  his  compre- 
hensive mind,  and  assisting  at  eveiy  oppor- 
tunity in  its  defense. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  settlers  at  Har- 
rodstown,  on  the  6th  of  June,  1775,  General 
George  Rogers  Clark  and  Gabriel  John  Jones 
were  chosen  to  represent  them  in  the  Assembly 
of  Virginia. 

This,  however,  was  not  precisely  the  thing 
contemplated  by  Clark."^  He  mshed  that  the 
people  should  appoint  agents^  with  general 
powers  to  negotiate  with  the  government  of 
Virginia,  and  in  the  event  that  that  common- 
wealth should  refuse  to  recognize  the  colonists 
as  ^vithin  its  jurisdiction  and  under  its  protec* 
*  Collins, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  119 

tion,  lie  proposed  to  employ  the  lands  of  the 
country  as  a  fund  to  obtain  settlers  and  establish 
an  independent  State.  The  election  had,  how- 
ever,  gone  too  far  to  change  its  object  when  Clark 
arrived  at  Harrodstown,  and  the  gentlemen 
elected,  although  aware  that  the  choice  could 
give  them  no  seat  in  the  Legislature,  proceeded 
to  Williamsburg,  at  that  time  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment. After  suffering  the  most  severe  priva- 
tions  in  theii'  journey  through  the  wilderness, 
the  delegates  found,  on  their  arrival  in  Virginia, 
that  the  Legislature  had  adjourned,  whereupon 
Jones  directed  his  steps  to  the  settlements  on 
the  Holston,  and  left  Clark  to  attend  to  the 
Kentucky  mission  alone. 

He  immediately  waited  on  Governor  Henry, 
then  lying  sick  at  his  residence  in  Hanover 
County,  to  whom  he  stated  the  objects  of  his 
journey.  These  meeting  the  approbation  of  the 
governor,  he  gave  Clark  a  letter  to  the  Execu- 
tive  Council  of  the  State.  With  this  letter  in 
his  hand  he  appeared  before  the  Council,  and 
after  acquainting  them  fully  \vith  the  condition 
and  circumstances  of  the  colony,  he  made  ap- 


120  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

plication  for  live  hundred- weight  of  giinpoAvder 
for  the  defense  of  the  various  stations.  But 
with  every  disposition  to  assist  and  promote 
the  growth  of  these  remote  and  infant  settle- 
ments,  the  Council  felt  itself  restrained,  by  the 
uncertain  and  indefinite  state  of  the  relations 
existing  between  the  colonists  and  the  State  of 
Virginia,  from  com2:)lying  fully  with  his  de- 
mand. The  Kentuckians  had  not  yet  been 
recognized  by  the  Legislature  as  citizens,  and 
the  proprietary  claimants,  Henderson  &  Co. 
were  at  this  time  exerting  themselves  to  obtain 
from  Virginia  a  relinquishment  of  her  juris- 
diction over  the  ne^v  territory.  The  Council, 
therefore,  could  only  afford  to  lend  the  gun- 
powder to  the  colonists  as  friends,  not  give  it 
to  them  SiS  felloiv-citizens:^ 

At  the  same  time,  they  required  Clark  to  be 
personally  responsible  for  its  value,  in  the  event 
the  Legislature  should  refuse  to  recognize  the 
Kentuckians  as  citizens,  and  in  the  meantime  to 
defray  the  expense  of  its  conveyance  to  Ken- 
tucky.    Upon  these  terms  he  did  not  feel  at 

*  CoUins. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  121 

liberty  to  accept  tlie  proffered  assistance.  He 
represented  to  the  Council,  that  the  emissaries 
of  the  British  were  enipk^ying  every  means  to 
engage  the  Indians  in  the  war ;  that  the  people 
in  the  remote  and  exposed  Stations  of  Kentucky 
might  be  exterminated  for  the  want  of  a  supply 
which  he,  a  private  individual,  had,  at  so  much 
hazard  and  hardship,  sought  for  their  relief,  and 
that,  when  this  frontier  bulwark  was  thus  de- 
stroyed, the  fury  of  the  savages  would  burst  like 
a  tempest  upon  the  heads  of  their  own  citizens. 

To  these  representations,  however,  the  Council 
remained  inexorable;  the  sympathy  for  the 
frontier  settlers  was  deep,  but  the  assistance 
already  offered  Avas  a  stretch  of  power,  and  they 
could  go  no  further.  The  keeper  of  the  public 
magazine  was  directed  to  deli^  er  the  powder  to 
Clark ;  but  having  long  reflected  on  the  situa- 
tion, prospects,  and  resources  of  the  new  country, 
his  resolution  to  reject  the  assistance,  on  the 
proposed  conditions,  was  made  before  he  left  the 
Council  chamber. 

He  determined  to  repair  to  Kentucky,  as  he 
had  at  first  contemplated,  to  exert  the  resources 


i<22  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

of  the  country  for  the  formation  of  an  Lutepen- 
chnt  State.  He  accordingly  returned  the  order  of 
the  Council  in  a  letter,  setting  forth  his  reasons 
for  declining  to  accept  their  powder  on  these 
terms,  and  intimating  his  design  of  applying  for 
assistance  elsewhere,  adding  "that  a  country 
which  was  not  worth  defending  was  not  worth 
claiming."  On  the  receipt  of  this  letter  the 
Council  recalled  Clark  to  their  presence,  and  an 
order  was  passed  on  the  28d  of  August,  1776, 
for  the  transmission  of  the  gunpowder  to  Pitts- 
bm'g,  to  be  there  delivered  to  Clark,  or  his  order, 
for  the  use  of  the  people  of  Kentucky.  This 
was  the  first  act  in  that  long  and  affectionate  in- 
terchange of  good  offices  which  subsisted  be- 
tween Kentucky  and  her  parent  State  for  so 
many  years  ;  and  obvious  as  the  reflection  is,  it 
may  not  be  omitted,  that  on  the  successful  ter- 
mination of  this  negotiation  hung  the  connection 
between  Virginia  and  the  splendid  domain  she 
afterward  acquired  west  of  the  Alleghany  Moun« 
tains. 

At   the   fall   session   of   the   Legislature   of 
Virginia,  Messrs.  Jones  and  Clark  laid  the  Ken- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  123 

tucky  memorial  before  that  body.     They  were, 
of   course,  not  admitted   to  seats,  though  late 
in    the   session   they   obtained,   in    opposition 
to   the   exertions  of   Colonels   Hendei-son  and 
Campbell,    the    formation    of    the     territory, 
which  now  comprises  the  present  State  of  that 
name,  into  the  County  of  Kentucky.     The  first 
efficient  political  organization  of  Kentucky  ^vas 
thus  obtained  thi'ough  the  sagacity,  influence, 
and  exertions  of  George  Eogers  Clark,  who  must 
be  ranked  as  the  earliest  founder  of  that  com- 
monwealth.    This  act  of  the  Virginia  Legisla- 
ture  first  gave  it  form  and  a  political  existence, 
and  entitled  it,  under  the  constitution  of  Yir- 
ginia,  to  a  representation  in  tlie  Assembly,  as 
well  as  to  a  judicial  and  military  establishment. 
Having  obtained  these  important  advantages 
from  their  mission,  they  received  the  intelligence 
that  the  powder  was  still  at  Pittsburg,  and  they 
determined  to  take  that  point  in  theii^  route  home 
and  carry  it  mth  them.     The  country  around 
Pittsburg    swarmed    with    Indians,    e^ddently 
hostile  tc  the  whites,  who  would  no  doubt  seek 
to  interrupt  their  voyage. 


124  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

These  circumstances  created  a  necessity  for  the 
utmost  caution  as  well  as  expedition  in  their 
movements,  and  they  accordingly  hastily  em- 
barked on  the  Ohio  ^vith  only  seven  boatmen. 
They  were  hotly  jDursued  the  whole  way  by 
Indians,  but  succeeded  in  keeping  in  advance 
until  they  ariived  at  the  mouth  of  Limestone 
Creek,  at  the  spot  where  the  cit}'  of  Maysville 
now  stands.  They  ascended  this  creek  a  short 
distance  with  their  boat,  and  concealed  their 
cargo  at  different  places  in  the  woods  along 
its  banks.  They  then  turned  their  boat  adrift, 
and  directed  their  course  to  Harrodstown,  in- 
tending to  retiu-n  with  a  sufficient  escort  to  in- 
sure the  safe  transportation  of  the  powder  to  its 
destination.  This  in  a  short  time  ^vas  success- 
fully effected,  and  the  colonists  were  thus  abun- 
dantly supplied  with  the  means  of  defense  against 
the  fierce  enemies  who  beset  them  on  all  sides.* 

It  was  foi-tunate  for  Virginia,  says  a  recent 
writer,  f  that  she  had  at  this  time,  on  her 
western  borders,  an  individual  of  rare  military 

*  Collins.     "  Historical  Sketches  of  Kentucky." 
t  Howe.    J'  Historical  Collections  of  Virginia.**^ 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  I2a 

genius,  in  the  person  of  Colonel  George  Rogers 
Clark,  "-"-tlie  Hannibal  of  the  We^t^''  who  not  only 
sav^ed  her  back  settlements  from  Indian  fury,  but 
planted  her  standard  far  beyond  the  Ohio.  The 
Governor  of  the  Canadian  settlements  in  the 
Illinois  country,  by  every  possible  method,  insti- 
gated the  Indians  to  annoy  the  frontier. 

Virginia  placed  a  small  force  of  about  250 
men  under  Clark,  Avho,  descending  the  Ohio, 
hid  theii'  boats,  and  marched  northwardly,  with 
their  provisions  on  their  backs.  These  being 
consumed,  they  subsisted  for  two  days  on  roots, 
and,  in  a  state  of  famine,  appeared  before  Kas- 
kaskias,  unseen  and  unheard. 

At  midnight  they  surprised  and  took  the 
town  and  fort,  which  had  resisted  a  much  larger 
force ;  then  seizing  the  golden  moment,  sent  a 
detachment  who  with  equal  success  surprised 
thi'ee  other  towns.  Rocheblave,  the  obnoxious 
Governor,  was  sent  to  Virginia.  On  his  person 
were  found  written  instructions  from  Quebec 
to  excite  the  Indians  to  hostilities,  and  reward 
them  for  the  scalps  of  the  Americans. 

The  settlers  transferred  their  allegiance  to 


126  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Virginia,  and  she,  as  the  temtoiy  belonged  to 
her  by  conquest  and  charter,  in  the  autumnal 
session  of  1778  erected  it  into  a  county  to  be 
called  Illinois.  Insulated  in  the  heart  of  the 
Indian  country,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  fero- 
cious tribes,  few  men  but  Clark  could  have  pre- 
served this  acquisition. 

Hamilton,  the  Governor  of  Detroit,  a  bold  and 
tyrannical  personage,  determined,  ^^dth  an  over- 
'\\'helming  force  of  British  and  Indians,  to  pene- 
trate up  the  Ohio  to  Fort  Pitt,  to  sweep  all  the 
principal  settlements  in  his  way,  and  besiege 
Kaskaskias.  Clark  despaired  of  keeping  pos- 
session of  the  country,  but  lie  resolved  to  pre- 
serve this  post,  or  die  in  its  defense.  AVhile  he 
was  strengthening  the  fortifications,  he  received 
information  that  Hamilton,  who  was  at  Fort  St. 
Vincent  (Vincennes),  had  weakened  his  force 
by  sending  some  Indians  against  the  frontiers. 

This  information,  to  the  genius  of  Clark,  dis- 
closed, vnih  the  rapidity  of  an  electric  flash, 
not  only  safety  but  new  glory.  To  resolve  to 
attack  Hamilton  before  he  could  collect  the 
Indians  ^^as  the  work  of  a  moment — the  only 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  127 

hope  of  saving  the  country.  With  a  band  of 
150  gallant  and  hardy  comrades,  he  marched 
across  the  country.  It  was  in  February,  1779. 
When  within  nine  miles  of  the  enemy,  it  took 
these  intrepid  men  five  days  to  cross  the  drowned 
lands  of  the  Wabash,  having  often  to  wade  up 
to  their  breasts  in  water.  Had  not  the  weather 
been  remarkably  mild,  they  must  have 
perished. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d,  they  landed  in 
sight  of  the  fort,  before  the  enemy  knew  any- 
thing of  their  approach.  After  a  siege  of  eigh- 
teen hours  it  surrendered,  without  the  loss  of  a 
man  to  the  besiegers.  The  Governor  was  sent 
prisoner  to  Williamsburg,  and  considerable 
stores  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  conqueror. 

Other  auspicious  circumstances  crowned  this 
result.  Clark,  intercepting  a  convoy  from 
Canada,  on  their  way  to  this  post,  took  the  mail, 
forty  prisoners,  and  goods  to  the  value  of 
$45,000  ;  and  to  crown  all,  his  express  from  Vir- 
ginia arrived  with  the  thanks  of  the  Assembly 
to  him  and  his  gallant  band  for  their  reduction 
of  the  country  about  Kaskaskias.     This  year 


][28  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Virginia  extended  her  western  establishments 
through  the  agency  of  Colonel  Clark,  and  had 
several  fortifications  erected,  among  which  was 
Fort  Jefferson,  on  the  Mississppi.  * 


♦Howe. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Scarcity  of  salt  at  Boonesborough— Boone  goes  to  Blue  Licks 
to  make  salt,  and  is  captured  by  the  Indians— Taken  to 
Chillicotbe — Affects  contentment,  and  deceives  tlie  Indians 
—Taken  to  Detroit— Kindness  of  the  British  officers  to  him 
—Returns  to  Chillicothe— Adopted  into  an  Indian  family- 
Ceremonies  of  adoption — Boone  sees  a  large  force  of  Indians 
destined  to  attack  Boonesborough— Escapes,  and  gives  the 
alarm,  and  strengthens  tlie  fortifications  at  Boonesborough 

News  of  delay  by    the  Indians  on  account  of  Boone's 

escape — Boone  goes  on  an  expedition  to  the  Scioto — Has  a 
fight  with  a  party  of  Indians— Returns  to  Boonesborough, 
which  is  immediately  besieged  by  Captain  Duquesne  with 
five  hundred  Indians— Summons  to  sm-render— Time  gained 
—Attack  commenced— Brave  defense— Mines  and  counter- 
mines—Siege raised— Boone  brings  his  family  once  more 
back  to  Boonesborough,  and  resumes  farming. 

While  George  Rogers  Clark  was  engaged  in 

his  campaign  against  the  British  posts  in  the 

Northwest,  Daniel  Boone  was  a  prisoner  among 

the   Indians.      The   people   at   Boonesborough 

were  siifferino;  for  want  of  salt.     It  could  not 

be   obtained  conveniently   from    the   Atlantic 

Colonies,   but  it  could  be  manufactured  at  a 

place  called  the  Bhie  Licks,  from  salt  water 

which  abounded  there. 

9  129 


130  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

In  January,  1778,  accompanied  by  thirty  men, 
Boone  went  to  the  Blue  Licks  to  make  salt  for 
the  different  Stations ;  and  on  the  7th  of  Feb- 
ruary following,  while  out  hunting,  he  fell  in 
with  one  hundred  and  two  Indian  waniors,  on 
their  march  to  attack  Boonesborough.  He  in- 
stantly fled,  but  being  upward  of  fifty  years 
old,  he  was  unable  to  outstrip  the  fleet  young 
men  who  pursued  him,  and  was  a  second  time 
taken  prisoner.  As  usual,  he  was  treated  \Adth 
kindness  until  his  final  fate  should  be  deter- 
mined, and  was  led  back  to  the  Licks,  M^here 
his  party  were  still  encamped.  Here  Boone 
surrendered  his  whole  party  to  the  number  of 
twenty-seven,  upon  a  promise  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians  of  life  and  good  treatment,  both 
of  which  conditions  were  faithfully  observed. 
This  step  was  apparently  unnecessary ;  but  the 
result  showed  that  it  was  a  master  stroke  of 
policy  on  Boone's  part.  He  knew  the  natm-e  of 
the  Indians,  and  foresaw  that  they  would  forth- 
with return  home  with  their  prisoners,  and  thus 
save  Boonesborough  from  attack. 

Had  the  Indians  gone  on  to  that  place,  by 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  131 

showing  their  prisonei^  and  threatening  to  put 
them  to  the  torture,  they  might  have  obtained 
important  results.  But  they  did  nothing  of  the 
kind.  As  Boone  had  calculated,  they  went 
home  with  their  prisoners  and  booty. 

Captain  Boone  has  been  censured  foi  the 
surrender  of  his  men,  which  he  made  at  his  own 
capture,  and  at  a  subsequent  period  was  tried  by 
court-martial  and  acquitted.  This  was  a  just  de- 
cision. The  surrender  caused  the  Indians  to  re- 
turn home  with  their  prisoners  instead  of  attack- 
ing Boonesborough,  which  would  almost  cer- 
tainly have  been  taken  and  destroyed  if  this 
surrender  had  not  been  made. 

Elated  with  their  unexpected  success,  the 
Indians  now  returned  at  once  to  old  Chillicothe, 
the  principal  town  of  the  Sha^vnees,  on  the 
Little  Miami,  treating  their  prisoners,  during  a 
march  of  three  days  in  very  cold  and  inclement 
weather,  as  well  as  they  fared  themselves,  as  re- 
garded fire  and  pro^dsions.  Boone  and  his  com- 
panions  were  kept  in  captivity  by  the  Indians, 
and  closely  watched  for  several  weeks,  when 
the  old  pioneer  and  ten  of  his  men  were  con.' 


132  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

ducted  to  Detroit,  then  a  Britisli  garrison,  and 
all  but  Boone  presented  to  tlie  commandant,  hy 
wliom  they  were  all  well  treated.  For  tlie  old 
pioneer  himself,  the  Indians  had  conceived  a 
particular  liking  ;  and  they  stubbornly  refused 
to  give  him  up,  though  several  gentlemen  of 
Detroit  were  very  anxious  they  should  leave 
him,  and  the  commandant  offered  to  ransom  him 
by  a  liberal  sum.  He  was  therefore  compelled 
to  accompany  them  back  to  Chillicothe,  their 
town  on  the  Little  Miami ;  which  they  reached 
after  a  march  of  fifteen  days. 

Boone  was  now  fonnally  adopted  as  a  son  in 
one  of  the  Indian  families.  "  The  forms  of  the 
ceremony  of  adoption,"  says  Mr.  Peck,*  "  were 
often  severe  and  ludicrous.  The  hair  of  the 
head  is  plucked  out  by  a  painful  and  tedious 
operation,  leaving  a  tuft,  some  three  or  four 
inches  in  diameter,  on  the  crown  for  the  scalp- 
lock,  which  is  cut  and  dressed  up  with  ribbons 
and  feathers.  The  candidate  is  then  taken  into 
the  river  in  a  state  of  nudity,  and  there  thor- 
oughly washed  and  rubbed,  'to   take  all  his 

*  "  Life  of  Daniel  Boone," 


LIFE  O^  DAKIEL  BOONE.  130 

Vaite  blood  out.'  This  ablution  is  usually  per- 
foitiied  by  females.  He  is  then  taken  to  the 
council-house,  where  the  chief  makes  a  speech, 
in  which  he  expatiates  upon  the  distinguished 
honors  conferred  on  him.  His  head  and  face 
are  painted  in  the  most  approved  and  fashion- 
able style,  and  the  ceremony  is  concluded  with 
A  grand  feast  and  smoking." 

After  undergoing  after  this  fashion  what  was 
not  inaptly  termed  the  Indian  toilet,  Boone 
-^Yas  considered  a  regular  member  of  the  tribe, 
and  by  judiciously  accommodating  himself  to 
his  ncAv  condition,  he  rapidly  won  upon  the 
regards  of  the  Indians,  and  soon  secured  their 
confidence.  They  challeuged  him  to  a  trial  of 
skill  at  their  shooting-matches — in  Avhich  he  took 
care  not  to  excel  them — invited  him  to  accom- 
pany them  on  their  hunting  excursions,  bestow- 
ed particular  notice  upon  him  in  various  ways, 
and  always  treated  him  with  much  consider- 
ation. As  regarded  merely  his  physical  com- 
fort, Boone's  situation  was,  at  this  time,  rather 
enviable  than  other^vise  ;  but  he  felt  a  depress- 
ing anxiety  Avith  re.2:ard  to  his  wife   and  chil- 


134  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

dreii,  aucl  doubted  the  safety  and  prosperity  of 
the  Station,  mthout  his  own  watchfulness  and 
superintendence.  He  therefore  detennined  to 
escape  from  his  captors  at  the  earliest  possible 
period,  and  very  impatiently  waited  an  oppor- 
tunity for  accomplishing  this  purpose. 

Early  in  June  a  party  of  Indians  went  to  the 
Scioto  Licks  to  make  salt.  Boone  was  taken 
A\dth  them,  but  kept  so  constantly  employed  at 
the  kettles,  that  he  found  no  chance  of  escaping. 
Having  sufficiently  supplied  themselves  with 
the  desired  article,  the  party  retiu^ned ;  and  at 
the  Chillicothe  town  Boone  found  four  hundred 
and  fifty  Indian  warriors,  armed  well  and  painted 
in  a  most  frightful  manner,  ready  to  march 
a:^ainst  Boonesborough :  this  was  on  the  fifteenth 
or  sixteenth  of  the  month. 

Boone  now  saw  the  absolute  necessity  of  es- 
caping at  once,  and  determined  to  make  the 
attempt  ^vithout  delay.  He  rose  at  the  usual 
time  the  next  morning,  and  went  out  upon 
a  hunt.  His  object  was  to  give  his  wary 
masters  the  slip,  in  such  a  manner  as  would  be 
least  likely  to  excite  their  suspicions,  and  b« 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONB.  135 

tfc  longest  in  determining  them  upon  a  pur- 
suit 

Nc  sooner  was  lie  at  sucli  a  distance  from  the 
town  as  would  prevent  observations  of  his 
movements,  than  he  struck  out  rapidly  in  the 
dii'ection  of  Boonesborough.  So  gi-eat  was  his 
anxiety,  that  he  stopped  not  to  kill  anything  to 
eat,  but  performed  his  journey — a  distance  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  miles — in  less  than  five 
days,  upon  one  meal,  which,  before  starting,  he 
had  concealed  in  his  basket.  On  ariiving  at 
Boonesborough,  he  found  the  fort,  as  he  feared 
he  should,  in  a  bad  state  for  defense ;  but  his 
acti^^ty  soon  strengthened  it,  and  his  courage 
at  once  reinspired  the  sinking  hearts  of  the  gai*- 
rison.  Everything  was  immediately  put  in 
proper  condition  for  a  vigorous  defense,  and  all 
became  impatient  for  intelligence  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy. 

A  few  days  after  Boone's  escape  from  the 
Indians,  one  of  his  fellow-prisoners  succeeded 
likemse  in  eluding  their  vigilance,  and  made 
his  way  safely  and  expeditiously  to  Boones- 
borough.    This  man  arrived  at  the  Station  at  a 


136  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  y 

time  when  tlie  garrison  were  hourly  expe^tiig 
the  appearance  of  the  enemy,  and  reported  tAat, 
on  account  of  Boone's  elopement,  the  Indians 
had  postponed  their  meditated  invasion  of  the 
settled  regions  for  three  weeks.*  It  rras  dis- 
covered, however,  that  they  had  their  spies  in 
the  country,  watching  the  movements  of  the 
different  garrisons ;  and  this  rendered  the  settlers 
wary  and  active,  and  gave  all  the  Stations  time 
and  opportunity  to  strengthen  themselves,  and 
make  every  preparation  for  a  powerful  resist- 
ance of  Avhat,  they  could  not  but  believe,  was 
to  be  a  loDg  and  great  eifort  to  drive  them  from 
the  land,  and  utterly  destroy  their  habita- 
tions. 

Week  passed  after  week,  but  no  enemy  ap- 
peared. The  state  of  anxiety  and  watchfulness 
in  which  the  garrison  at  Boonesborough  had, 
for  so  long  a  time,  been  kept,  was  becoming 
irksome,  and  the  men  were  beginning  to  relax  in 
their  vigilance.  This  Boone  observed,  and  it 
determined  him  to  undertake  an  expedition, 
which  lie  had  been  probably  meditating  for 
*  Gallagher, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  1S7 

some  time.  On  the  1st  of  August,  therefore, 
with  a  company  of  nineteen  of  the  brave  spirits 
by  whom  he  was  surrounded,  he  left  the  fort 
with  the  intention  of  marching  against  and  sur- 
prising one  of  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Scioto. 
He  advanced  rapidly,  but  with  great  caution, 
and  had  reached  a  point  within  four  or  five 
miles  of  the  town  destined  to  taste  of  his  venge- 
ance, when  he  met  its  warriors,  thirty  in  num- 
ber, on  their  way  to  join  the  main  Indian  force, 
then  on  its  march  toward  Boonesborough. 

An  action  immediately  commenced,  which 
terminated  in  the  flight  of  the  Indians,  who  lost 
one  man  and  had  two  others  wounded. 

Boone  received  no  injury,  but  took  three 
horses,  and  all  the  "  plunder  "  of  the  war  party. 
He  then  despatched  two  spies  to  the  Indian 
town,  who  returned  ^^ith  the  intelligence  that 
it  was  evacuated.  On  the  receipt  of  this  infor- 
mation, he  started  for  Boonesborough  with  all 
possible  haste,  hoping  to  reach  the  Station  before 
the  enemy,  that  he  might  give  warning  of  their 
approach,  and  strengthen  its  numbers.  He 
pas;^ed   tlie  main  body  of  the  Indians  on  the 


13?  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

sixth  day  of  liis   march,  and  on   the  seven fcL 
reached  Boonesborough. 

On  the  eighth  day  the  enemy's  force  marched 
up,  ^vith  British  colors  flying,  and  invested  the 
place.  The  Indian  army  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Duqnesne,  with  eleven  other  Canadian 
Frenchmen  and  several  distinguished  chiefs,  and 
was  the  most  formidable  force  which  had  yet 
invaded  the  settlements.  The  commander  sun> 
moned  the  garrison  to  surrender  in  the  name  of 
his  Britannic  Majesty. 

Boone  and  his  men,  perilous  as  was  their  situ- 
ation, received  the  sununons  without  apparent 
alarm,  and  requested  a  couple  of  days  for  the 
consideration  of  what  should  be  done.  This 
was  granted ;  and  Boone  summoned  his  brave 
companions  to  council:  hut  fifty  men  ai^pemed  ! 
Yet  these  fift}^,  after  a  due  consideration  of  the 
terms  of  capitulation  proposed,  and  with  the 
knowledge  that  they  were  surrounded  by  sav- 
age and  remorseless  enemies  to  the  number  of 
about  five  Tiimdred^  determined,  unanimously, 
to  ^'  defend  tJiefort  as  long  as  a  Qiian  of  them 
lived  r' 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  139 

The  two  clays  Laving  expired,  Boone  an- 
nounced this  determination  from  one  of  the 
bastions,  and  thanked  the  British  commander 
for  the  notice  given  of  his  intended  attack,  and 
the  time  allowed  the  garrison  for  preparing  to 
defend  the  Station.  This  reply  to  his  summons 
was  entirely  unexpected  by  Duquesne,  and  he 
heard  it  vnth  evident  disappointment.  Other 
terms  were  immediately  proposed  by  him,  which 
"  sounded  so  gratefully  in  the  ears  "  of  the  gar- 
rison that  Boone  agreed  to  treat ;  and,  -snth 
eight  of  his  companions,  left  the  fort  for  this 
purpose.  It  was  soon  manifest,  however,  by 
the  conduct  of  the  Indians,  that  a  snare  had 
been  laid  for  them;  and  escaping  from  their 
wily  foes  by  a  sudden  eifort,  they  re-entered  the 
palisades,  closed  the  gates,  and  betook  them- 
selves to  the  bastions. 

A  hot  attack  upon  the  fort  now  instantly 
commenced  but  the  fire  of  the  Indians  was  re- 
tui^ned  from  the  garrison  with  such  unexpected 
briskness  and  fatal  precision  that  the  besiegers 
were  compelled  to  fall  back.  They  then  shel- 
tered themselves  behind  the  nearest  trees  and 


140  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

stumps  and  continued  tlie  attack  witli  more 
caution.  Losing  a  number  of  men  himself,  and 
perceiving  no  falling  off  in  tlie  strength  or 
the  marksmanship  of  the  garrison,  Duquesne 
resorted  to  an  expedient  which  promised  greater 
success. 

The  foii:  stood  upon  the  bank  of  the  river, 
about  sixty  yards  from  its  margin  ;  and  the 
purpose  of  the  commander  of  the  Indians  was 
to  undermine  this,  and  blow  up  the  garrison. 
Duquesne  was  pushing  the  mine  under  the  fort 
with  energy  when  his  operations  were  discovered 
by  the  besieged.  The  miners  precipitated  the 
earth  which  they  excavated  into  the  river ;  and 
Boone,  perceiving  that  the  water  was  muddy 
below  the  fort,  while  it  was  clear  above,  in- 
stantly divined  the  cause,  and  at  once  ordered 
a  deep  trench  to  be  cut  inside  the  fort,  to  coun- 
teract the  work  of  the  enemy. 

As  the  earth  was  dug  up,  it  was  thrown  over 
the  wall  of  the  fort,  in  the  face  of  the  besieging 
commander.  Duquesne  was  thus  informed  that 
his  design  had  been  discovered  ;  and  being  con- 
vinced of  the  futility  of  any  further  attempts 


LIFE  OF  13ANIEL  BOONE.  141 

of  thai  kind  he  discontinued  Lis  mining  opera- 
tions, and  once  more  renewed  tlie  attack  upon  tlie 
Station  in  the  manner  of  a  regular  Indian  siege. 
His  success,  however,  was  no  Letter  than  it  had 
been  before;  the  loss  appeared  to  be  all  upon 
his  side  ;  his  stock  of  provisions  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted ;  having  for  nine  days  tried  the  bravery 
of  his  savage  force,  and  tasked  his  own  in- 
genuity  to  its  utmost,  he  raised  the  siege,  anc] 
abandoned  the  grand  object  of  the  expedi- 
tion. 

During  this  siege,  "  the  most  formidable,"  says 
Mr.  Marshall,  "  that  had  ever  taken  place  in 
Kentucky  from  the  number  of  Indians,  the  skill 
of  the  commanders,  and  the  fierce  countenances 
and  savage  dispositions  of  the  wamors,"  only 
two  men  belonging  to  the  Station  were  killed, 
and  four  others  wounded. 

Duquesne  lost  thirty-seven  men,  and  had 
many  wounded,  who,  according  to  the  invariable 
usage  of  the  Indians,  were  immediately  borne 
from  the  scene  of  action. 

Boonesborough  was  never  again  disturbed  by 
my  formidable  body  of  Indians.     New  Stations 


142  ^JtFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

were  springing  up  every  year  between  it  and 
the  Ohio  River,  and  to  pass  beyond  these 
for  the  purpose  of  striking  a  blow  at  an  older 
and  stronger  enemy,  was  a  piece  of  folly  of 
which  the  Indians  were  never  known  to  be 
guilty. 

During  Boone's  capti\dty  among  the  Shaw- 
nees,  his  family,  supposing  that  he  had  been 
killed,  had  left  the  Station  and  returned  to  their 
relatives  and  friends  in  North  Carolina ;  and  as 
early  in  the  autumn  as  he  could  well  leave,  the 
brave  and  hardy  warrior  started  to  move  them 
out  again  to  Kentucky.  He  returned  to  the 
settlement  with  them  early  the  next  summer, 
and  set  a  good  example  to  his  companions  by 
industriously  cultivating  his  fai-m,  and  volun- 
teeringhis  assistance,  whenever  it  seemed  needed, 
to  the  many  immigrants  who  ^vere  now  pouring 
into  the  country,  and  erecting  new  Stations  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Boonesborough.  He  was 
a  good  as  well  as  a  great  man  in  his  sphere, 
says  Mr.  Gallagher  (our  chief  authority  for  the 
foregoing  incidents)  ;  and  for  his  many  and  im- 
portant services  in  the  early  settlements  of  Ken- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  143 

tucky,  lie  well  deserved  the  title  of  Patriarcli 
which  was  bestowed  upon  him  during  his  life, 
and  all  the  praises  that  have  been  sung  to  his^ 
memory  since  his  death  * 

*  W.  D.  Gallagher,  in  "  Hesperiaiu* 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Captain  Boone  tried  by  court-martial — Honorably  acquitted 
and  promoted — Loses  a  large  sum  of  money — His  losses  by 
lawsuits  and  disputes  about  land — Defeat  of  Colonel 
Rogers's  party — Colonel  Bowman's  expedition  to  Chilli- 
cothe — Arrival  near  the  town — Colonel  Logan  attacks  the 
tov^n — Ordered  by  Colonel  Bowman  to  retreat — Failure  of 
the  expedition — Consequences  to  Bowman  and  to  Logan. 

Some  complaint  having  been  made  respecting 
Captain  Boone's  surrender  of  liis  party  at  tlie 
Blue  Licks,  and  other  parts  of  his  military  con- 
duct, his  friends,  Colonel  Eichard  Callaway  and 
Colonel  Benjamin  Logan,  exhibited  charges 
against  him  Avhich  occasioned  his  being  tried  by 
coui^t-martial.  This  ^vas  undoubtedly  done  with 
a  view  to  put  an  end  to  the  calumny  l)y  dis- 
proving or  explaining  the  charges.  The  result 
of  the  trial  was  an  honorable  acquittal,  increased 
popularity  of  the  Captain  among  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Major 


lU 


to  me  raiiijk.  ul  xvxttj<.»r  ' 
Peek. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  115 

While  Boone  had  been  a  prisoner  among  the 
Indians,  his  wife  and  family,  supposing  him  to 
be  dead,  had  returned  to  North  Carolina.  lu 
the  autumn  of  1778  he  went  after  them  to  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Boone's  father  on  the  Yadkin. 

In  1779,  a  commission  having  been  opened  by 
the  Virginia  Legislature  to  settle  Kentucky  land 
claims,  Major  Boone  "  laid  out  the  chief  of  liis 
little  prope]*ty  to  procure  land  warrants,  and 
having  raised  about  twenty  thousand  dollars  in 
paper  money,  with  which  he  intended  to  pur- 
chase them,  on  his  way  from  Kentucky  to  Rich- 
mond, he  was  robbed  of  the  ^vhole,  and  left 
destitute  of  the  means  of  procuring  more. 
This  heavy  misfortune  did  not  fall  on  himself 
alone.  Large  sums  had  been  intrusted  to  him 
by  his  friends  for  similar  purposes,  and  the  loss 
was  extensively  felt." 

Boone  must  have  suffered  much  anxiety  in 
consequence  of  this  affiair.  Little  is  known  re- 
specting  it,  excepting  that  it  did  not  impair  the 
confidence  of  his  friends  in  his  perfect  integrity. 

This  appeal's  in  the  following  extract  of  a 
letter  from   Colonel  Thomas  Hart,  late  of  Lex- 


t6 


110  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

ingtoii,  KeDtucky,  to  Captain  Nathaniel  Hart., 
dated  Grayfields,  August  3d,  1780. 

'^  I  observe  what  ^^ou  say  respecting  oiu*  losses 
by  Daniel  Boone.  [Boone  had  been  robbed  of 
funds  in  part  belonging  to  T.  and  N.  Hart.]  I 
had  heard  of  the  misfortune  soon  after  it  hap- 
pened, but  not  of  my  being  partaker  before  now. 
I  feel  for  the  poor  people,  who,  perhaps,  are 
to  lose  even  their  pre-emptions  :  but  I  must  say, 
I  feel  more  for  Boone,  whose  character,  I  am 
told,  suffers  by  it.  Mucli  degenerated  must  the 
people  of  this  age  be,  when  amongst  them  are 
to  be  found  men  to  censure  and  blast  the  repu- 
tation of  a  person  so  just  and  upright,  and  in 
whose  breast  is  a  seat  of  virtue  too  pure  to  ad- 
mit of  a  thought  so  base  and  dishonorable.  I 
have  known  Boone  in  times  of  old,  when  pov- 
erty and  distress  had  him  fast  by  the  hand ; 
and  in  these  ^vi^etched  circumstances,  I  have  ever 
found  him  of  a  noble  and  generous  soul,  despising 
everything  mean  ;  and  therefore  I  will  freely 
gi^ant  him  a  discharge  for  whatever  sums  of  mine 
he  might  have  been   possessed  of  at  the  time." 

Boone's   ignorance  of  legal  proceedings,  and 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  147 

his  avereion  to  lawsuits,  appear  to  have  occa- 
sioned the  loss  of  his  real  estate  ;  and  the  loose 
manner  in  which  titles  were  granted,  one  con- 
flicting with  another,  occasioned  similar  losses 
to  much  more  experienced  and  careful  men  at 
the  same  period. 

During  the  3'ear  1779  the  emigration  to  Ken- 
tucky was  much  greater  than  any  previous  one. 
The  settlers  do  not  seem  to  have  been  so  much 
annoyed  by  the  Indians  as  formerly.  Yet  this 
year  is  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  Kentucky 
for  the  most  bloody  battle  ever  fought  between 
the  whites  and  Indians  within  her  borders,  with 
the  single  exception  of  that  of  the  Blue  Licks. 

It  took  place  opposite  to  Cincinnati.  Colo- 
nel  Kogers  had  been  down  to  New  Orleans  to 
procui'e  supplies  for  the  posts  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi  and  Ohio.  Having  obtained  them, 
he  ascended  these  rivers  until  he  reached  the 
place  mentioned  above.  Here  he  found  the 
Indians  in  their  canoes  coming  out  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Little  Miami,  and  crossing  to  the  Kentucky 
side  of  the  Ohio.  He  conceived  the  plan  of 
surprising  them  as  they  landed.     The  Oliio  a\  as 


148  LII'E  OF  I3ANIEL  BOONE. 

very  low  on  the  Kentucky  side,  so  that  a  large 
sand-bar  was  laid  bare,  extending  along  the 
shore.  Upon  this  Eogers  landed  his  men,  but, 
before  they  could  reach  the  spot  where  they  ex- 
pected to  attack  the  enemy  they  were  them- 
selves attacked  by  such  superior  numbers  that 
the  issue  of  the  contest  was  not  doubtful  for  a 
single  moment.  Rogers  and  the  greater  part  of 
his  men  were  instantly  killed.  The  few  who 
were  left  fled  toward  the  boats.  But  one  of 
them  was  already  in  the  possession  of  the  Indi- 
ans, whose  flanks  were  extended  in  advance  of 
the  fugitives,  and  the  few  men  remaining  in  the 
other  pushed  off  from  shore  without  waiting  to 
take  their  conu*ades  on  board.  These  last  now 
turned  around  upon  their  pursuers,  and,  furiously 
charging  them,  a  small  number  broke  through 
their  ranks  and  escaped  to  Harrodsburg.  The 
loss  in  this  most  lamentable  affair  was  about  sixty 
men,  very  nearly  equal  to  that  at  Blue  Licks. 

The  Kentuckians  resolved  to  invade  the  In- 
dian country,  and  Chillicothe  was  selected  as 
the  point  to  feel  the  Aveight  of  their  vengeance. 
Colonel  Bowman  issued  a  call,  invitiuo:  all  those 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  149 

who  were  willing  to  accompany  him  in  the  ex- 
pedition to  rendezvous  at  Harrodsburg.  This 
was  the  manner  of  organizing  such  expeditions 
in  Kentucky.  An  officer  ^vould  invite  volun- 
teers to  participate  with  him  in  an  incursion 
into  the  Indian  country.  All  who  joined  were 
expected  to  submit  to  his  direction. 

On  this  occasion  there  ^vas  no  want  of  zeal 
among  the  people.  Bowman's  reputation  as  a 
soldier  was  good,  and  three  hundred  men  ^vere 
soon  collected,  among  whom  were  Logan  and 
HaiTod,  both  holding  the  rank  of  captain.  It 
does  not  appear  that  either  Boone  or  Kenton 
engaged  in  this  enterprise.  Indeed,  the  first  is 
said  to  have  been  absent  in  North  Carolina,  his 
family  having  returned  there  after  liis  capture 
in  the  preceding  year,  supposing  him  to  be  dead. 

The  expedition  moved  in  the  month  of  July — 
its  destination  well  known — and  its  march  so  well 
conducted  that  it  approached  its  object  without 
discovery.  From  this  circumstance,  it  would 
seem  that  the  Indians  were  but  little  apprehen- 
sive of  an  invasion  from  those  who  had  never 
]>efo]^  ventured  on  it,  and  whom  they  were  in 


150  I^IFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

the  habit  of  invading  annually ;  or  else  so  secure 
in  their  own  courage  that  they  feared  no  enemy, 
for  no  suspecting  spy  ^vas  out  to  foresee  approach- 
ing danger.  Arrived  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  town,  night  approached,  and  Colonel  Bow- 
man halted.  Here  it  was  determined  to  invest 
and  attack  the  place  just  before  the  ensuing  day, 
and  several  dispositions  were  then  made  very 
proper  for  the  occasion,  indicating  a  considerable 
share  of  militaiy  skill  and  caution,  which  gave 
reasonable  promise  of  a  successful  issue.  At  a 
proper  hour  the  little  army  separated,  after  a 
movement  that  placed  it  near  the  town,  the  one 
part,  under  the  command  of  Bowman  in  person 
— the  other,  under  Captain  Logan;  to  whom 
precise  orders  had  been  given  to  march,  on  the 
one  hand,  half  round  the  town ;  while  the  Colo- 
nel, passing  the  other  way,  was  to  meet  him, 
and  give  the  signal  for  an  assault.  Logan  im- 
mediately executed  his  orders,  and  the  place  was 
half  enveloped.  But  he  neither  saw  nor  heard 
the  commander-in-chief.  Logan  now  ordered 
his  men  to  conceal  themselves  in  the  grass  and 
weeds,  and  behind  such  other  objects  as  were 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  I5I 

present,  as  the  day  began  to  show  itself,  and  lie 
had  not  }'et  I'eceived  the  expected  order  to  begin 
the  attacl: ;  nor  had  he  been  able,  though 
anxions,  to  ascertain  what  liad  intercepted  or 
delayed  his  superior  officer.  The  men,  on  shift- 
ing abont  for  hiding-places,  had  alarmed  one  of 
the  Indians'  dogs,  who  forthwith  set  to  barking 
with  the  agitation  of  apparent  fright.  This 
brought  out  an  Indian  wanior,  who  proceeded 
with  caution  on  the  way  that  the  dog  seemed  to 
direct  his  own  attention,  and  in  a  short  time,  if 
he  had  continued  his  progress,  might  have  been 
made  a  prisoner ;  but,  at  this  critical  moment, 
one  of  the  party  with  the  Colonel  fired  his  gun  ; 
which  the  Indian,  well  understanding  as  coming 
from  an  enemy,  gave  an  instantaneous  and  loud 
w^hoop,  and  ran  immediately  to  his  cabin.  The 
alarm  was  instantly  spread  through  the  towTi, 
and  preparation  made  for  defense.  The  party 
with  Logan  was  near  enough  to  hear  the  bustle 
and  to  see  the  women  and  children  escaping  to 
the  cover  of  the  woods  by  a  ridge  which  ran 
between  them  and  where  Colonel  Bowman  with 
his  men  had  halted. 


152  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

In  the  meantime  tlie  waiTiors  equipped  them- 
selves  mtli  their  military  habiliments,  and  re- 
paii'ed  to  a  strong  cabin ;  no  doubt,  designated 
in  their  councils  for  the  like  occurrences.  By 
this  time  daylight  had  disclosed  the  whole  scene, 
and  several  shots  were  discharged  on  the  one 
side,  and  returned  from  the  other,  while  some 
of  Logan's  men  took  possession  of  a  few  cabins, 
from  which  the  Indians  had  retreated — or  rather 
perhaps  it  should  be  said,  repaired  to  their 
stronghold,  the  more  effectually  to  defend  them- 
selves. The  scheme  was  formed  by  Logan,  and 
adopted  by  his  men  in  the  cabins,  of  making  a 
movable  breastwork  out  of  the  doors  and  floor — 
and  of  pushing  it  forward  as  a  battery  against 
the  cabin  in  which  the  Indians  had  taken  post ; 
others  of  them  had  taken  shelter  from  the  fire  of 
the  enemy  l^ehind  stumps,  or  logs,  or  the  vacant 
cabins,  and  w^ere  waiting  orders ;  when  the 
Colonel  finding  that  the  Indians  were  on  their 
defense,  despatched  orders  for  a  retreat.  This 
order,  received  with  astonishment,  ^vas  obeyed 
with  reluctance  ;  and  what  rendered  it  the  more 
distressing,  was  the  unavoidable  exposure  which 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  I53 

the  men  must  encounter  in  the  open  field,  or 
prairie,  which  surrounded  the  town :  for  they 
were  apprised  that  from  the  moment  they  left 
their  cover,  the  Indians  would  fire  on  them, 
until  they  were  beyond  the  reach  of  their  balls. 
A  retreat,  however,  was  deemed  necessaiy,  and 
every  man  was  to  shift  for  himself.  Then, 
instead  of  one  that  was  orderly,  commanding,  or 
supported — a  scene  of  disorder,  immilitary  and 
mortifying,  took  place ;  here  a  little  squad  would 
rush  out  of  or  break  from  behind  a  cabin — there 
individuals  would  rise  from  a  log,  or  start  up 
from  a  stump,  and  run  with  all  speed  to  gain 
the  neighboring  wood. 

At  length,  after  the  loss  of  several  lives,  the 
remnant  of  the  invading  force  was  reunited,  and 
the  retreat  continued  in  tolerable  order,  under 
the  painful  reflection  that  the  expedition  had 
failed,  without  any  adequate  cause  being  known. 
This  was,  however,  but  the  introduction  to  dis- 
grace,  if  not  of  misfortune  still  more  extraor- 
dinary and  distressing.  The  Indian  warriors, 
commanded  by  Blackfish,  sallied  from  the  town, 
and  commenced  a  pui^uit  of  the  discomfited  in 


154:  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

vaders  of  their  forests  and  firesides,  which  they 
continued  for  some  miles,  harassing  and  galling 
the  rear  of  the  fugitives  without  being  checked, 
notwithstanding  the  disparity  of  numbers, 
there  not  being  more  than  thirty  of  the  savages 
in  pursuit.  Bowman,  finding  himself  thus 
pressed,  at  length  halted  his  men  in  a  low  piece 
of  ground  covered  with  bnish ;  as  if  he  sought 
shelter  from  the  enemy  behind  or  among  them. 
A  situation  more  injudiciously  chosen,  if  chosen 
at  all,  cannot  be  easily  imagined- — since  of  all 
others  it  most  favored  the  purposes  of  the 
Indians.  In  other  respects  the  commander 
seems  also  to  have  lost  his  understanding — he 
gave  no  orders  to  fire — made  no  detachment  to 
repulse  the  enemy,  who,  in  a  few  minutes,  by 
the  whoops,  yells,  and  firing,  were  heard  on  all 
sides — but  stood  as  a  mark  to  be  shot  at  or  one 
panic-struck.  Some  of  the  men  fired,  but  with- 
out any  precise  object,  for  the  Indians  were 
scattered  and  hid  by  the  grass  and  bushes. 
What  would  have  been  the  final  result  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  conjecture,  if  Logan,  Han^od,  Bulger, 
and  a  few  others  had  not  mounted  some  of  the 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  Jgg 

pack-horses  and  scoured  the  woods,  first  in  one 
direction,  then    in    another;  rushing    on    the 
Indians  wherever  they  could  find  them,  until 
very  fortunately  Blackfish  was  killed  ;  and  this 
being  soon  known,  the  rest  fled.     It  was  in  the 
evening  when  this  event  occurred,  which  being 
repoii^ed  to  the  Colonel,  he  resumed  his  march  at 
dark— taking  for  his  guide  a  creek  near  at  hand, 
which  he  pursued  all  night  without  any  remark- 
able  occurrence— and  in  quiet  and  safety  thence 
returned  home,  with  the  loss  of  nine  men  killed 
and  another  wounded  :  having  taken  two  Indian 
scalps :  which,  however,  was  thought  a  trophy 
of  small  renown. 

A  somewhat  different  account  is  given  by 
some,  in  which  Bowman  is  exculpated  from  all 
blame.  According  to  this,  it  was  the  \agorou8 
defense  of  the  Indians  which  prevented  him 
from  fulfilling  his  part  of  the  combinations. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  Bowman  lost 
reputation  by  the  expedition;  while,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  conduct  of  Logan  raised  him 
still  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the  people. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Invasion  of  Kentucky  by  Colonal  Byrd's  party— He  capture? 
the  garrisons  at  Ruddle's  Station  and  Martin's  Fort — Colo- 
nel Clark's  invasion  of  the  Indian  country — He  ravages 
the  Indian  towns — Adventure  of  Alexander  McConnell— 
Skirmish  at  Pickaway — Result  of  the  expedition — Boone 
goes  to  the  Blue  Licks  with  his  brother — Attacked  by  the 
Indians — Boone's  brother  killed — Boone  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel — Clark's  galley — Squire  Boone's 
Station  removed  to  Bear's  Creek — Attack  by  the  Indians — 
Colonel  Floyd's  defeat— Affair  of  the  McAfees — Attack  on 
McAfee's  Station  repelled — Fort  Jefferson  evacuated — At- 
tack on  Montgomery  Station — Rescue  by  General  Logan. 

The  year  1780  was  distinguished  foi*  two 
events  of  much  importance :  the  invasion  of 
Kentucky  by  the  British  and  Indians^  under 
Colonel  Byrd,  and  General  Clark's  attack  upon 
the  Shawanee  towns.  The  first  of  these  was 
a  severe  and  unexpected  blow  to  Kentucky. 
Mai'shall  says  that  the  people  in  their  eagerness 
to  take  up  land  had  almost  forgotten  the  exist- 
ence of  hostilities.     Fatal   security,  and  most 

fatal  with  such  a  foe,  whose  enterprises   wera 
156 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  157 

conducted  with  such  secrecy  that  their  first 
announcement  was  their  presence  in  the  midst 
of  the  unprepared  settlement.  In  fact,  the  care* 
lessness  of  the  Western  borderers  is  often  un- 
accountable, and  this  is  not  the  least  surprising 
instance  of  it. 

That  they  did  not  anticipate  an  attempt  to 
retaliate  the  incursion  of  Bowman  into  the  In- 
dian country  is  indeed  astonishing.  It  was  very 
fortunate  for  the  Kentuckians  that  their  ene- 
mies were  as  little  gifted  with  perseverance  as 
they  were  with  vigilance.  This  remark  is  to  be 
undei^stood  in  a  restricted  sense  of  both  par* 
ties.  When  once  aroused  to  a  sense  of  their  dan. 
ger  none  were  more  readily  prepared,  or  more 
watchful  to  meet  it  than  the  settlers ;  and  on 
the  other  hand,  nothing  could  exceed  the  per- 
severance of  the  Indians  in  the  beginning  of 
their  enterprises,  but  on  the  slightest  success 
(not  reverse)  they  wished  to  return  to  exhibit 
their  trophies  at  home.  Thus,  on  captiu"ing 
Boone  and  his  party,  instead  of  pushing  on  and 
attacking  the  settlements  which  were  thus  weak- 
ened, the}'  retiirned  to  display  their  prisoners. 


158  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

The  consequences  were  tliat  these  defects  neu« 
tralized  each  other,  and  no  very  decisive  strokes 
were  made  by  either  side.  But  the  English 
Governor  Hamilton,  who  had  hitherto  contented 
himself  with  stimulating  the  Indians  to  hostili- 
ties, now  aroused  by  the  daring  and  success  of 
Clark,  prepared  to  send  a  powerful  exj)edition 
by  way  of  retaliation,  against  the  settlements. 
Colonel  Byrd  was  selected  to  command  the 
forces,  which  amounted  to  six  hundred  men, 
Canadians  and  Indians.  To  render  them  irresist- 
ible, they  were  supplied  ^nth  two  pieces  of  artil- 
lery. The  posts  on  the  Licking  were  the  first 
objects  of  the  expedition. 

In  June  they  made  their  appearance  before 
Ruddle's  Station  ;  and  this,  it  is  said,  was  the 
first  intimation  that  the  garrison  had  received  of 
their  danger,  though  Butler  states  that  the 
enemy  were  twelve  days  on  their  march  from 
the  Ohio.  The  incidents  of  the  invasion  are 
few.  The  fort  at  Ruddle's  Station  was  in  no 
condition  to  resist  so  powerful  an  enemy  backed 
by  artillery,  the  defenses  being  nowise  superior 
to  those  we  have  before  described. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  159 

They  were  summoned  to   surrender  in   the 
name  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  with  the  promise 
of  protection  for  their  lives  only.     What  could 
they  do  ?     The  idea  of  resisting  such  a  force  was 
vain.     The  question  presented  itself  to   them 
thus  :     Whether  they  should  surrender  at  once 
and  give  up  their   property,  or  enrage  the  In- 
dians  by   a  fruitless   resistance,  and  lose  their 
property   and    lives   also.      The  decision    was 
quickly  made,  the  post  was  surrendered  and  the 
enemy  thronged  in,  eager  for  plunder.     The  in- 
mates  of  the  fort  were  instantly  seized,  families 
were   separated  ;  for   each   Indian  caught  the 
first  person  whom  he  met,  and  claimed  him  or 
her  as  his  prisoner.     Three  who  made  some  re- 
sistance were  killed  upon  the  spot.     It  was  in 
vain   that   the  settlers  remonstrated  with   the 
British  commander.  He  said  it  Avas  impossible  to 
restrain  them.     This  doubtless  was  true  enough, 
but  he  should  have  thought  of  it  before  he  as- 
sumed the  command  of  such  a  horde,  and  con- 
sented to  lead  them  against  weak  settlements. 

The  Indians    demanded  to  be  led   at   once 
against  Martin's  Fort,  a  post  about  five  miles  dis- 


1^0  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tant.  Some  say  that  the  same  scene  was  enacted 
over  here ;  but  another  account  states  that  so 
strongly  Avas  Colonel  Byrd  affected  by  the  bar- 
barities of  the  Indians,  that  he  refused  to  ad- 
vance further,  unless  they  would  consent  to  al- 
low him  to  take  charge  of  all  the  prisoners  who 
should  be  taken.  The  same  account  goes  on  to 
say  that  the  demand  ^v  as  complied  with,  and 
that  on  the  suri'ender  of  Martin's  Fort,  this  ar- 
rangement was  actually  made  ;  the  Indians  tak- 
ing possession  of  the  property  and  the  Biitish 
of  the  prisoners.  However  this  may  be,  the 
capture  of  this  last-mentioned  place,  which  was 
surrendered  under  the  same  circumstances  as 
Ruddle's,  was  the  last  operation  of  that  cam- 
paign. Some  quote  this  as  an  instance  of  weak- 
ness ;  Butler,  in  particular,  contrasts  it  with  the 
energy  of  Clark. 

The  sudden  retreat  of  the  enemy  inspired  the 
people  with  joy  as  great  as  their  consternation 
had  been  at  the  ncAvs  of  his  unexpected  advance. 
Had  he  pressed  on,  there  is  but  little  doubt  that 
all  the  Stations  would  have  fallen  into  his  hands, 
for  there  were  not  men  enough  to  spare  from 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  101 

them  to  meet  liim  in  the  field.  The  greatest 
difficulty  would  have  been  the  carnage  of  the 
artillery.  The  unfortunate  people  M'ho  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  at  Ruddle's 
Station  were  obliged  to  accompany  their  cap- 
tors on  their  rapid  retreat,  heavily  laden  with  the 
plunder  of  their  OAvn  dwellings.  Some  returned 
after  peace  was  made,  but  too  many,  sinking 
under  the  fatigues  of  the  journey,  perished  by 
the  tomahawk. 

Soon  after  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  General 
Clark,  who  was  stationed  at  Fort  Jefferson, 
called  upon  the  Kentuckians  to  join  him  in  an 
invasion  of  the  Indian  country.  The  reputation 
of  Clark  caused  the  call  to  be  responded  to  with 
great  readiness.  A  thousand  men  Avere  collected, 
with  whom  Clark  entered  and  devastated  the 
enemy's  territory.  The  principal  toAvns  were 
burned  and  the  fields  laid  waste.  But  one  skir* 
mish  was  fought,  and  that  at  the  Indian  village 
of  Pickaway.  Tlie  loss  was  the  same  on  both 
sides,  seventeen  men  being  killed  in  each  army. 
Some  writers  Nvho  have  not  the  slightest  objec- 
tion to  war  very  gravely  express  doubts  as  to 


ZI 


152  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

whether  the  expedient  of  destroying  the  crops 
of  the  Indians  was  justifiable.  It  is  generally 
treated  by  these  men  as  if  it  was  a  wanton  dis- 
play of  a  vindictive  spirit,  when  in  reality  it  was 
dictated  by  the  soundest  policy ;  for  when  the 
Indians'  harvests  were  destro}'ed,  they  were 
compelled  to  subsist  their  families  altogether  by 
hunting  and  had  no  leisure  for  their  murderous 
inroads  upon  the  settlements.  This  result  was 
plainly  seen  on  this  occasion,  for  it  does  not  ap- 
pear that  the  Indians  attacked  any  of  the  settle- 
ments during  the  remainder  of  this  year. 

An  adventure  which  occurred  in  the  spring, 
but  was  passed  over  for  the  more  important 
operations  of  the  campaign,  claims  our  att-en* 
tion,  presenting  as  it  does  a  picture  of  the  varie- 
ties of  this  mode  of  warfare.  We  quote  from 
McClung : 

"Early  in  the  spring  of  1780  Mr.  Alexander 
McConnell,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  went  into 
the  woods  on  foot  to  hunt  deer.  He  soon 
killed  a  large  buck,  and  returned  home  for  a 
horse  in  order  to  bring  it  in.  During  his  ab« 
sence  a  party  of  five  Indians,  on  one  of  their 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  163 

usual  skulking  expeditions,  accidentally  stum- 
bled on  tlie  body  of  the  deer,  and  perceiving 
that  it  had  been  recently  killed,  they  naturally 
supposed  that  the  hunter  would  speedily  return 
to  secure  the  flesh.  Three  of  them,  therefore, 
took  their  stations  within  close  rifle-shot  of  the 
deer,  while  the  other  two  followed  the  trail  of 
the  hunter,  and  waylaid  the  path  by  which  he 
was  expected  to  return.  McConnell,  expecting 
no  danger,  rode  carelessly  along  the  path,  which 
the  two  scouts  were  watching,  until  he  had 
come  within  view  of  the  deer,  when  he  was 
fired  upon  by  the  whole  party,  and  his  horse 
killed.  While  laboring  to  extricate  himself 
from  the  dying  animal,  he  was  seized  by  his 
enemies,  instantly  overpowered,  and  borne  off 
as  a  prisoner. 

"  His  captoi^,  however,  seemed  to  be  a  merry, 
good-natured  set  of  fellows,  and  permitted  him  to 
accompany  them  unbound,  and,  what  was  rather 
extraordinary,  allowed  him  to  retain  his  gun 
and  hunting  accouterments.  He  accompanied 
them  with  gi^eat  apparent  cheerfulness  through 
the  day,  and  displayed  his  dexterity  in  shooting 


I(j4  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

deer  for  the  use  of  the  company,  until  they 
began  to  regard  him  vnth  gi-eat  partiality. 
Having  traveled  with  them  in  this  manner  for 
several  days,  they  at  length  reached  the  banks 
of  the  Ohio  River.  Heretofore  the  Indians  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  bind  him  at  night,  al 
though  not  very  securely ;  but,  on  that  evening, 
he  remonstrated  with  them  on  the  subject,  and 
comj^lained  so  strongly  of  the  pain  which  the 
cords  gave  him,  that  they  merely  wrapped  the 
buffalo  tug  loosely  around  his  wrists,  and  hav- 
ing tied  it  in  an  easy  knot,  and  attached  the 
extremities  of  the  rope  to  their  own  bodies  in 
order  to  prevent  his  moving  without  awakening 
them,  they  very  composedly  went  to  sleep, 
leaving  the  prisoner  to  follow  their  example  or 
not,  as  he  pleased. 

"McConnell  determined  to  effect  his  escape 
that  night  if  possible,  as  on  the  following  night 
they  would  cross  the  river,  which  would  render 
it  much  more  difficult.  He  therefore  lay  quietly 
until  near  midnight,  anxiously  ruminating  upon 
the  best  means  of  effecting  his  object.  Acci- 
dentally casting  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of  his 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  105 

feet,  they  fell  upon  the  glittering  blade  of  a 
knife,  which  had  escaped  its  sheath,  and  was 
now  lying  near  the  feet  of  one  of  the  Indians. 
To  reach  it  with  his  hands,  without  disturbing 
the  two  Indians  to  whom  he  was  fastened,  ^va8 
impossible,  and  it  w^as  very  hazardous  to  attempt 
to  draw  it  up  with  his  feet.  This,  however,  he 
attempted.  With  much  difficulty  he  grasped 
the  blade  between  his  toes,  and,  after  repeated 
and  long-continued  efforts,  succeeded  at  length 
in  bringing  it  Avithin  reach  of  his  hands. 

"  To  cut  his  cords  was  then  but  the  work  of 
a  moment,  and  gradually  and  silently  extncat- 
ing  his  person  from  the  arms  of  the  Indians,  he 
-s^^alked  to  the  fire  and  sat  down.  He  saw  that 
his  work  wa«  but  half  done.  That  if  he  should 
attempt  to  retiu'n  home  without  destroying  his 
enemies,  he  would  assuredly  be  pursued  and 
probably  overtaken,  ^vhen  his  fate  would  be 
certain.  On  the  other  hand,  it  seemed  almost 
impossible  for  a  single  man  to  succeed  in  a  con- 
flict with  five  Indians,  even  although  unarmed 
and  asleep.  He  could  not  hope  to  deal  a  blow 
with   his    knife  so  silently  and  fatally   as   to 


16G  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOXE. 

destroy  eact  one  of  his  enemies  in  turn  without 
a^vakening  the  rest.  Their  slumbers  were  pro- 
verbially light  and  restless  ;  and,  if  he  failed 
with  a  single  one,  he  must  instantly  be  over- 
powered by  the  suiTivors.  The  knife,  therefore, 
was  out  of  the  question. 

"  After  anxious  reflection  for  a  few  minutes, 
he  formed  his  jplan.  The  guns  of  the  Indians 
were  stacked  near  the  fire ;  their  knives  and 
tomahawks  were  in  sheaths  by  their  sides.  The 
latter  he  dared  not  touch  for  fear  of  awakening 
their  o^^Tiers ;  but  the  f onner  he  carefully  re- 
moved, with  the  exception  of  two,  and  hid  them 
in  the  woods,  where  he  knew  the  Indians  would 
not  readily  find  them.  He  then  returned  to  the 
spot  where  the  Indians  were  still  sleeping,  per- 
fectly  ignorant  of  the  fate  preparing  for  them, 
and,  taking  a  gun  in  each  hand,  he  rested  the 
muzzles  upon  a  log  within  six  feet  of  his  victims, 
and,  having  taken  deliberate  aim  at  the  head  of 
one  and  the  heart  of  another,  he  pulled  both 
triggers  at  the  same  moment. 

"Both  shots  were  fatal.  At  the  report  of 
the  guns  the  others  sprung  to  their  feet   and 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  167 

stared  wildly  around  them.  McConnell,  wlio 
had  ruu  instantly  to  the  spot  where  the  other 
rifles  were  hid,  hastily  seized  one  of  them  and 
fired  at  two  of  his  enemies  who  happened  to 
stand  in  a  line  with  each  other.  The  nearest 
fell  dead,  being  shot  through  the  center  of  the 
body  ;  the  second  fell  also,  bellowing  loudly, 
but  quickly  recovering,  limped  off  into  the  woods 
as  fast  as  possible.  The  fifth,  and  the  only  one 
who  remained  unhurt,  darted  off  like  a  deer, 
with  a  yell  which  announced  equal  terror  and 
astonishment.  McConnell,  not  wishing  to  fight 
any  more  such  battles,  selected  his  own  rifle 
from  the  stack,  and  made  the  best  of  his  way  to 
Lexington,  where  he  arrived  safely  within  two 
days. 

"  Shortly  afterward,  Mrs.  Dunlap,  of  Fayette, 
who  had  been  several  months  a  prisoner 
amongst  the  Indians  on  Mad  E-iver,  made  her 
escape,  and  returned  to  Lexington.  She  re- 
ported that  the  survivor  returned  to  his  tribe 
vdth  a  lamentable  tale.  He  related  that  they 
had  taken  a  fine  yoimg  hunter  near  Lexington, 
and  had  brought  him  safely  as  far  as  the  Ohio  ; 


I  (58  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOXE. 

tliat  while  encamped  upon  the  bank  of  the 
river  a  large  party  of  ^^  hite  men  had  fallen 
npon  them  in  the  night,  and  kiDed  all  his  com- 
panions, together  with  the  poor  defenselesi^ 
prisoner,  who  lay  bound  hand  and  foot,  unable 
either  to  escape  or  resist." 

In  October,  1 780,  Boone,  who  had  brought 
his  family  back  to  Kentucky,  went  to  the  Blue 
Licks  in  company  with  his  l)rother.  They 
were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians,  and  Dan- 
iel's  brother  was  killed,  and  he  himself  pursued 
by  them  with  the  assistance  of  a  dog.  Being 
hard  pressed,  he  shot  this  animal  to  pre^•ent  his 
barking  from  giving  the  alarm,  and  so  escaj^ed. 

Kentucky  having  l)een  divided  into  three 
counties,  a  more  perfect  organization  of  the 
militia  was  effected.  A  Colonel  and  a  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel were  appointed  for  each  count}- ; 
those  who  held  the  first  rank  -were  Floyd,  Lo- 
gan, and  Todd.  Pope,  Trigg,  and  Boone  held  the 
second.  Clark  ^vas  Brio^adier-General,  and  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  all  the  Kentucky  militia  ;  be- 
sides which  he  had  a  small  num]>er  of  regulai's 
at  Fort  Jefferson.     Spies  and  scouting  parties 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  169 

were  coiitiiiually  employed,  and  a  galley  was 
constructed  b}-  Clark's  order,  wliicli  was  fur- 
nished Avitli  liglit  pieces  of  artillery.  This  new 
species  of  defense  did  not,  however,  take  very 
well  with  the  militia,  ^vho  disliked  serving  upon 
the  watei',  probably  because  they  found  their 
freedom  of  action  too  much  circumscribed.  The 
regulars  were  far  too  few  to  spare  a  force  suffici- 
ent to  man  it,  and  soon  it  fell  into  disuse,  though 
it  is  said  to  have  been  of  considerable  service 
Awhile  it  was  employed.  Had  the  Kentuckians 
possessed  such  an  auxiliary  at  the  time  of 
Byrd's  invasion,  it  is  probable  that  it  would 
have  been  repelled.  But  on  account  of  the  I'e- 
luctance  of  the  militia  to  serve  in  it,  this  useful 
vessel  was  laid  aside  and  left  to  rot. 

The  campaign,  if  Ave  may  so  term  it,  of  1781, 
began  very  earl}'.  In  March,  several  parties  of 
Indians  entered  Jefferson  County  at  different 
points,  and  ambushing  the  paths,  killed  four 
men,  among  Avhoni  Avas  Colonel  A^^illiam  Linn. 
Captain  Wliitaker,  Avith  fifteen  men,  pursued  one 
of  the  parties.  He  folloAved  their  trail  to  the 
Ohio,  \\  lien,  supposing  they  had  crossed  over,  he 


170  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

^nbarked  his  men  in  canoes  to  continae  the  pur- 
suit. But  as  they  were  in  the  act  of  pushing 
off,  the  Indians,  who  were  concealed  in  their 
rear,  fired  upon  them,  killing  or  wounding  nine 
of  the  party.  Notwithstanding  this  heavy  loss, 
the  survivors  landed  and  put  the  Indians  to  flight. 
Neither  the  number  of  the  savages  engaged  in 
this  affair  or  their  loss  is  mentioned  in  the  narra- 
tive. In  April,  a  station  which  had  been  settled 
by  Squii'e  Boone,  near  Shelbyville,  became  al- 
armed by  the  report  of  the  appearance  of  Indi- 
ans. After  some  deliberation,  it  was  determined 
to  remove  to  the  settlement  on  Bear's  Creek. 
While  on  their  way  thither  they  were  attacked 
by  a  body  of  Indians  and  defeated  with  great 
loss.  These  are  all  the  details  of  this  action  we 
have  been  able  to  find.  Colonel  Floyd  collected 
twenty-five  men  to  pursue  the  Indians,  but,  in 
spite  of  all  his  caution,  fell  into  an  ambuscade, 
which  was  estimated  to  consist  of  two  hundred 
warrioi^.  Half  of  Colonel  Floyd's  men  were 
killed,  and  the  survivors  supposed  that  they  had 
slain  nine  or  ten  of  the  Indians,  This,  however, 
is  not  probable ;  either  the  number  of  the  In- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOXE.  171 

dians  engaged,  or  their  loss,  is  much  exaggerated. 
Colonel  Floyd  himself  had  a  narrow  escape, 
being  dismounted ;  he  would  have  been  made 
prisoner,  but  for  the  gallant  conduct  of  Captain 
Wells,  who  gave  him  his  horse,  the  colonel  l)e' 
ing  exhausted,  and  ran  by  his  side,  to  support 
Mm  in  the  saddle.  These  officers  had  formerly 
been  enemies,  but  the  magnanimous  behavior  of 
"Wells  on  this  occasion  made  them  steadfast 
friends.  ' 

"  As  if  every  month,"  says  Marshall,  "  was  to 
furnish  its  distinguishing  incident — in  May, 
Samuel  McAfee  and  another  had  set  out  from 
James  McAfee's  Station  for  a  plantation  at  a 
small  distance,  and  when  advanced  about  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  they  were  iired  on ;  the  man 
fell— -McAfee  wheeled  and  ran  toward  the  fort ; 
in  fifteen  steps  he  met  an  Indian — they  each 
halt  and  present  their  guns,  with  muzzles  almost 
touching — at  the  same  instant  they  each  pull 
trigger.  McAfee's  gun  makes  clear  fire,  the 
Indian's  flashes  in  the  pan — and  he  falls: 
McAfee  continues  his  retreat,  but  the  alarm 
being  given,  he  meets  his  brothers,  Eobert  and 


172  i-IFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

James — ^the  first,  though  cautioned,  ran  along 
the  path  to  see  the  dead  Indian,  by  this  time 
several  Indians  had  gained  the  path  bet\Yeen 
him  and  the  fort.  All  his  agility  and  dexterity 
was  now  put  to  the  test — he  flies  from  tree  to 
tree,  still  aiming  to  get  to  the  fort,  but  is  pur- 
sued by  an  Indian ;  he  throws  himself  over  a 
fence,  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  fort, 
and  the  Indian  takes  a  tree — Robert,  sheltered 
by  the  fence,  was  soon  prepared  for  him,  and 
while  he  puts  his  face  by  the  side  of  the  tree 
to  look  for  his  object,  McAfee  fires  his  rifle  at 
it,  and  lodged  the  ball  in  his  mouth — in  this  he 
finds  his  death,  and  McAfee  escapes  to  the 
fort." 

In  the  mean  time,  James  McAfee  was  in  a 
situation  of  equal  hazard  and  perplexity.  Fiv^e 
Indians,  lying  in  ambush,  fired  at,  but  missed 
him ;  he  flies  to  a  tree  for  safety,  and  instantly 
received  a  fire  from  three  or  four  Indians  on 
the  other  side — the  bullets  knock  the  dust  about 
his  feet,  but  do  him  no  injury ;  he  abandons 
the  tree  and  makes  good  his  retreat  to  the  foi*t. 
One  white  man  and  two  Indians  were  killed. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  173 

Such  were  the  incidents  of  Indian  warfare — and 
such  the  fortunate  escape  of  the  brothers. 

Other  events  occurred  in  rapid  succession — the 
Indians  appear  in  all  directions,  and  with  horrid 
yells  and  menacing  gestures  commence  a  fire  on 
the  fort.  It  was  returned  with  spirit;  the 
women  cast  the  bullets — the  men  discharged 
them  at  the  enemy.  This  action  lasted  about 
two  hours;  the  Indians  then  withdrew.  The 
firing  had  been  heard,  and  the  neighborhood 
roused  for  the  fight.  Major  Magary,  with  some 
of  his  men,  and  others  from  other  stations,  to  the 
number  of  forty,  appeared  on  the  ground  soon 
after  the  Indians  had  retreated,  and  determined 
on  pursuing  them.  This  was  accordingly  done 
with  promptitude  and  celerity.  At  the  distance 
of  a  mile  the  enemy  were  overtaken,  attacked, 
and  defeated.  They  fled — were  pursued  for 
several  miles — and  completely  routed.  Six  or 
seven  Indians  were  seen  dead,  and  others 
wounded.  One  Kentuckian  was  killed  in  the 
action  ;  another  mortally  wounded,  who  died 
after  a  few  days.  Before  the  Indians  entirely 
withdrew   from  the   fort   they  killed   all   the 


174  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

cattle  they  saw,  without  making  any  use  of 
them. 

From  this  time  McAfee's  Station  was  never 
more  attacked,  although  it  remained  for  several 
years  an  exposed  frontier.  Nor  should  the  re- 
mark be  omitted  that  for  the  residue  of  the  year 
there  were  fewer  incidents  of  a  hostile  nature 
than  usual. 

Fort  Jefferson,  which  had  been  established  on 
the  Mississippi,  about  five  miles  below  the  mouth 
of  the  Ohio,  had  excited  the  jealousy  of  the  Choc- 
taws  and  Chickasaws,  who  claimed  the  territory 
in  which  it  was  built.  In  order  to  appease  them, 
it  was  deemed  advisable  to  evacuate  the  post. 

The  hostile  tribes  north  of  the  Ohio  had  by 
this  time  found  the  strength  of  the  settlers,  and 
saw  that  unless  they  made  a  powerful  effort, 
and  that  speedily,  they  must  forever  relinquish 
all  hope  of  reconquering  Kentucky.  Such  an 
effort  was  determined  upon  for  the  next  yeai* ; 
and  in  order  to  weaken  the  whites  as  much  as 
possible,  till  they  were  prepared  for  it,  they 
continued  to  send  out  small  parties,  to  infest  the 
settlements. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  175 

At  a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles  from 
Logan's  Fort  was  a  settlement  called  tlie  Mont- 
gomery Station.  Most  of  tlie  ^Deople  were  con- 
nected with  Logan's  family.  This  Station  was 
surrounded  in  the  night.  In  the  morning  an 
attack  was  made.  Several  persons  were  killed 
and  others  captured.  A  gii'l  who  escaped  spread 
the  alarm  ;  a  messenger  reached  Logan's  Fort, 
and  General  Logan  with  a  strong  party  pursued 
the  Indians,  defeated  them  and  recovered  the 
prisoners. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

News  of  Cornwallis's  surrender — Its  effects — Captain  Estill's 
defeat— Grand  army  of  Indians  raised  for  the  conquest  of 
Kentucky— Simon  Girty's  speech — Attack  on  Hoy's  Station 
— Investment  of  Bryant's  Station — Expedient  of  the  be- 
sieged to  obtain  water — Grand  attack  on  the  fort— Repulse — 
Regular  siege  commenced — Messengers  sent  to  Lexington — 
Reinforcement  obtained — Arrival  near  the  fort — Ambushed 
and  attacked — They  enter  the  fort — Narrow  escape  of 
Qirty — He  proposes  a  capitulation — Parley — Reynolds'  an- 
swer to  Girty— The  siege  raised— Retreat  of  the  Indians. 

In  October,  1781,  Cornwallis  surrendered  at 
Yorktowii.  This  event  was  received  in  Ken- 
tucky, as  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  with 
great  joy.  The  power  of  Britain  was  supposed 
to  be  broken,  or  at  least  so  much  crij)pled,  that 
they  would  not  be  in  a  condition  to  assist  theii* 
Indian  allies  as  they  liad  previously  done.  The 
winter  passed  away  quietly  enough  and  the 
people  were  once  more  lulled  into  security  from 
which  they  were  again  to  be  rudely  awakened. 
Early  in   the  spring   the  parties  of  the  enemy 

recommenced  their  forays.     Yet  there  was  noth- 
176 


LIFE  OF"  DANIEL  BOONli:.  177 

ing  in  these  to  excite  unusual  apprehensions.  At 
first  they  were  scarcely  equal  in  magnitude  to 
those  of  the  previous  year.  Cattle  ^^  ere  killed, 
and  horses  stolen,  and  individuals  or  small  par- 
ties were  attacked.  But  in  May  an  affair  occiu'red 
possessing  more  interest,  in  a  military  point  of 
view,  than  any  other  in  the  history  of  Indian 
wars. 

In  the  month  of  May  a  party  of  about  twenty, 
five  Wyandots  invested  Estill's  Station,  on  the 
south  of  the  Kentucky  River,  killed  one  white 
man,  took  a  negro  prisoner,  and  after  destroying 
the  cattle,  retreated.  Soon  after  the  Indians 
disappeared.  Captain  Estill  raised  a  company  of 
twenty-five  men  ;  with  these  he  pursued  the 
Indians,  and  on  Hinkston's  Fork  of  Licking,  two 
miles  below  the  Little  Mountain,  came  within 
gunshot  of  them.  They  had  just  crossed  the 
creek,  which  in  that  part  is  small,  and  were  as- 
cending one  side  as  Estill's  party  descended  the 
other,  of  two  approaching  hills  of  moderate 
elevation.  The  watercourse  which  lay  between 
had  produced  an  opening  in  the  timber  and 
brush,   conducing  to  mutual    discovery,   whil« 

18 


178  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

botli  hill 8  were  well  set  with  trees,  interspei^ed 
with  saplings  and  bushes.  Instantly  after  dis- 
covering  the  Indians,  some  of  Captain  EstilFs 
men  fired  at  them ;  at  first  they  seemed  alarmed, 
and  made  a  movement  like  flight ;  but  their 
chief,  although  wounded,  gave  them  orders  to 
stand  and  fight — on  which  they  promptly  pre- 
pared for  battle  by  each  man  taking  a  tree  and 
facing  his  enemy,  as  nearly  in  a  line  as  practi- 
cable. In  this  position  they  returned  the  fire 
and  entered  into  the  battle,  Avhich  they  con- 
sidered as  inevitable,  with  all  the  fortitude  and 
animation  of  individual  and  concerted  bravery 
so  remarkable  in  this  paiiicular  tribe. 

In  the  meantime.  Captain  Estill,  with  due 
attention  to  what  was  passing  on  the  opposite 
side,  checked  the  progress  of  his  men  at  about 
sixty  yards  distance  from  the  foe,  and  gave 
orders  to  extend  their  lines  in  front  of  the 
Indians,  to  cover  themselves  by  means  of  the 
trees,  and  to  fire  as  the  object  should  be  seen — 
with  a  sure  aim.  This  order,  perfectly  adapted 
to  the  occasion,  was  executed  with  alacrity,  as  far 
^s  circumstances  would  admit,  and  the  desultoiy 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  179 

mode  of  Indian  fighting  was  thought  to  require. 
So  that  both  sides  were  preparing  and  ready 
at  the  same  time  for  the  bloody  conflict  which 
ensued,  and  which  proved  to  be  singularly  ob- 
stinate. 

The  numbers  were  equal;  some  have  said, 
exactly  twenty-five  on  each  side.  Othei-s  have 
mentioned  that  Captain  Estill,  upon  seeing  the 
Indians  form  for  battle,  despatched  one  or  two 
of  his  men  upon  the  back  trail  to  hasten  for- 
ward a  small  reinforcement,  which  he  supposed 
was  following  him ;  and  if  so,  it  gave  the  In- 
dians the  superioi-ity  of  numbers  without  pro- 
ducing the  desired  assistance,  for  the  reinforce- 
ment never  arrived. 

Now  w^ere  the  hostile  lines  within  rifle-shot, 
and  the  action  became  warm  and  generrJ  to 
their  extent.  Never  was  battle  more  like  single 
combat  since  the  use  of  fire-arms ;  each  man 
sought  his  man,  and  fired  only  when  he  saw  his 
mark ;  Avounds  and  death  were  inflicted  on  either 
side — neither  advancing  nor  retreating.  The 
firing  was  deliberate  ;  with  caution  they  looked, 
but  look  they  would,  for  the  foe,  although  life 


180  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

itself  was  often  tlie  forfeit.  And  ttus  both 
sides  iirmly  stood,  or  bravely  fell,  for  more  than 
an  hour ;  upward  of  one-fourth  of  the  combat- 
ants had  fallen,  never  more  to  rise,  on  either 
side,  and  several  others  were  wounded.  Never, 
probably,  was  the  native  bravery  or  collected 
fortitude  of  men  put  to  a  test  more  severe.  In 
the  clangor  of  an  ardent  battle,  when  death  is 
forgotten,  it  is  nothing  for  the  brave  to  die — 
when  even  cowards  die  like  brave  men — but  in 
the  cool  and  lingering  expectation  of  death, 
none  but  the  man  of  the  true  courage  can  stand. 
Such  Avere  those  engaged  in  this  conflict.  Never 
was  maneuvering  more  necessaiy  or  less  prac- 
ticable. Captain  Estill  had  not  a  man  to  spare 
from  his  line,  and  deemed  unsafe  any  movement 
in  front  mth  a  view  to  force  the  enemy  from 
their  ground,  because  in  such  a  movement  he 
must  expose  his  men,  and  some  of  them  would 
inevitably  fall  before  they  could  reach  the  ad- 
versary. This  would  increase  the  relative  su- 
periority of  the  enemy,  while  they  woukl  receive 
the  survivors  with  tomahawk  in  liand,  in  the 
use  of  which  they  were  practised  and  expert, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  181 

He  clearly  perceived  that  no  advantage  was  to 
be  gained  over  tlie  Indians  ^vhile  the  action  was 
continued  in  their  o\vn  mode  of  warfare.  For 
although  liis  men  were  probably  the  best  shooters 
the  Indians  were  undoubtedly  the  most  expert 
liiders ;  that  victory  itself,  could  it  have  been 
purchased  with  the  loss  of  his  last  man,  would 
afford  but  a  melancholy  consolation  for  the  loss 
of  friends  and  comrades,  but  even  of  victory, 
Avithout  some  maneu^^r  he  could  not  assure 
himself.  His  situation  was  critical,  his  fate 
seemed  suspended  upon  the  events  of  the  min- 
ute ;  the  most  prompt  expedient  was  demanded. 
He  cast  his  eyes  over  the  scene  ;  the  creek  was 
before  him,  and  seemed  to  oppose  a  charge  on 
the  enemy — retreat  he  coukl  not.  On  the  one 
hand  he  observed  a  valley  running  from  the 
creek  toward  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  line,  and 
immediately  combining  this  circumstance  with 
the  urgency  of  his  situation,  rendered  the  more 
apparently  hazardous  by  an  attempt  of  the  In- 
dians to  extend  their  line  and  take  his  in  flank, 
he  determined  to  detach  six  of  his  men  by  this 
valley  to  gain  the  flank  or  rear  of  the  enemy, 


182  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

while  Hinself,  mth  tlie  residue,  maintained  Ms 
position  in  front. 

The  detacliment  was  accordingly  made  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Miller,  to  whom  the 
route  was  sho^A'n  and  the  order  given,  conform- 
ably to  the  above  mentioned  determination  ;  un- 
fortunately, however,  it  was  not  executed.  The 
lieutenant,  either  mistaking  his  way  or  intention- 
ally betraying  his  duty,  his  honor,  and  his  cap- 
tain, did  not  proceed  with  the  requisite  despatch  ; 
and  the  Indians,  attentive  to  occurrences,  finding 
out  the  weakened  condition  of  their  adversaries, 
rushed  upon  them  and  compelled  a  retreat  after 
Captain  Estill  and  eight  of  his  men  were  killed. 
Four  others  were  badly  wounded,  who,  notwith- 
standing, made  their  escape ;  so  that  only  nine 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savages,  who  scalped 
and  stripped  them,  of  course. 

It  was  believed  by  the  survivors  of  this  action 
that  one  half  of  the  Indians  were  killed ;  and 
this  idea  was  corroborated  by  reports  from  their 
towns. 

There  is  also  a  tradition  that  Miller,  \vith  his 
detachment,  crossed  the  creek,  fell  in  vrith  tlie 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  1§3 

enemy,  lost  one  or  two  of  his  men,  and  had  a 
third  or  fourth  wounded  before  lie  retreated. 

The  battle  lasted  two  hours,  and  the  Indian 
chief  was  himself  killed  immediately  after  he 
had  slain  Captain  Estill ;  at  lea^t  it  is  so  stated 
in  one  account  we  have  seen.  This  action  had 
a  very  depressing  effect  upon  the  spirits  of  the 
Kentucldans.  Yet  its  results  to  the  victors  were 
enough  to  make  them  say,  with  Pyrrhus,  "  A 
few  more  such  victories,  and  we  shall  be  un- 
done." It  is  very  certain  that  the  Indians  wovild 
not  have  been  willing  to  gain  many  such  vic- 
tories even  to  accomplish  their  darling  object — 
the  expulsion  of  the  whites  from  Kentucky. 

The  grand  army,  destined  to  accomplish  the 
conquest  of  Kentucky,  assembled  at  Chillicothe. 
A  detachment  from  Detroit  reinforced  them,  and 
before  setting  out,  Simon  Gii-ty  made  a  speech 
to  them,  enlarging  on  the  ingratitude  of  the 
Long-knives  in  rebelling  against  their  Great 
Father  across  the  water.  He  described  in  glow^- 
ing  terms  the  fertility  of  Kentucky,  exhorting 
them  to  recover  it  from  the  grasp  of  the  Long- 
knife  before  he  should  be  too  strong  for  them. 


184  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

This  speecli  met  with  the  cordial  approbation  o{ 
the  company ;  the  army  soon  after  took  up  its 
march  for  the  settlements.  Six  hundred  war- 
riors,  the  flower  of  all  the  Korthwestern  tribes, 
were  on  their  way  to  make  what  they  knew 
must  be  their  last  effort  to  diive  the  intruders 
from  their  favorite  hunting-ground. 

Various  parties  preceded  the  main  body,  and 
these  appearing  in  different  places  created  much 
confusion  in  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  in  re- 
gard to  the  place  M^here  the  blow  was  to  fall. 
An  attack  was  made  upon  the  garrison  at  Hoy's 
Station,  and  two  boys  were  taken  prisoners. 
The  Indians,  twenty  in  number,  were  pursued  by 
Captain  Holden,  with  seventeen  men.  He  over- 
took them  near  the  Blue  Licks,  (that  fatal  spot 
for  the  settlers,)  and  after  a  sharp  conflict  was 
obliged  to  retreat  with  the  loss  of  four  men. 

News  of  this  disaster  arrived  at  Biyant's 
Station,  (a  post  on  the  Elkhoi'n,  near  the  road 
from  Lexington  to  Maysville,)  on  the  fourteenth 
of  August,  and  the  garrison  prepared  to  march 
to  the  assistance  of  Hoy's  Station.  But  in  the 
night  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  arrived  before 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  185 

the  fort,  it  having  been  selected  as  the  point  for 
the  first  blo^v. 

The  water  for  the  use  of  the  garnson  was 
di'awn  from  a  spring  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  tlie  fort  on  the  northwestern  side.  Near 
this  spring  the  greater  pail  of  the  enemy  sta- 
tioned themselves  in  ambush.  On  the  other 
side  of  the  fort  a  body  was  posted  with  orders 
to  make  a  feint  of  attacking,  in  order  to  draw 
the  attention  of  the  garrison  to  that  point,  and 
gWe  an  opportunity  for  the  main  attack.  At 
daylight  the  garrison,  consisting  of  forty  or 
fifty  men,  were  preparing  to  march  out,  when 
they  were  startled  by  a  heavy  discharge  of  rifles, 
with  an  accompaniment  of  such  yells  as  come 
only  from  an  Indian's  throat. 

"  All  ran  hastily  to  the  picketing,"  says 
McClung,  "  and  beheld  a  small  party  of  Indians 
exposed  to  open  view,  firing,  yelling,  and  making 
the  most  furious  gestures.  The  appearance  was 
so  singular,  and  so  different  from  theii*  usual 
manner  of  fighting,  that  some  of  the  more  wary 
and  experienced  of  the  garrison  instantly  pro- 
nounced it  a  decoy  party,  and  restrained  the 


]56  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

young  men  from  sallying  out  and  attacking  them, 
as  some  of  them  were  strongly  disposed  to  do. 
The  opposite  side  of'  the  fort  was  instantly 
manned,  and  several  breaches  in  the  picketing 
rapidly  repaired.  Their  greatest  distress  arose 
from  the  prospect  of  suif sring  for  water.  The 
more  experienced  of  the  garrison  felt  satisfied 
that  a  powerful  party  was  in  ambuscade  near  the 
spring ;  but  at  the  same  time  they  supposed  that 
the  Indians  would  not  unmask  themselves  until 
the  firing  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  fort  was 
returned  with  such  wannth  as  to  induce  the 
belief  that  the  feint  had  succeeded. 

"Acting  upon  this  impression,  and  yielding  to 
the  urgent  necessity  of  the  case,  they  summoned 
all  the  women,  without  exception,  and  explain- 
ing to  them  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
were  placed,  and  the  improbability  that  any  in- 
jury would  be  offered  them,  until  the  firing  had 
been  returned  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  fort, 
they  urged  them  to  go  in  a  body  to  the  spring, 
and  each  to  bring  up  a  bucketful  of  water. 
Some  of  the  ladies,  as  was  natural,  had  no  relish 
for  the  undertaking,  and  asked  why  the  men 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  187 

could  not  bring  water  as  well  as  themselves  ? 
observing  that  they  were  not  bullet-proof,  and 
that  the  Indians  made  no  distinction  between 
male  and  female  scalps. 

''To  this  it  ^vas  answered,  that  women  were  in 
the  habit  of  bringing  water  every  morning  to 
the  fort,  and  that  if  the  Indians  saw  them  en- 
gaged as  usual,  it  would  induce  them  to  believe 
that  their  ambuscade  was  undiscovered,  and 
that  they  would  not  unmask  themselves  for  the 
sake  of  iu-ing  at  a  few  women,  when  they  hoped, 
by  remaining  concealed  a  few  moments  longer, 
to  obtain  complete  possession  of  the  fort.  That 
if  men  should  go  down  to  the  spring,  the  Indians 
would  immediately  suspect  that  something  was 
wrong,  would  despair  of  succeeding  by  ambus- 
cade, and  would  instantly  rush  upon  them,  fol- 
low them  into  the  fort,  or  shoot  them  down  at 
the  spring.     The  decision  was  soon  over. 

"A  few  of  the  boldest  declared  their  readiness 
to  brave  the  danger  ;  and  the  younger  and  more 
timid  rallying  in  the  rear  of  these  veterans,  they 
all  marched  down  in  a  body  to  \\\^  spring,  within 
point-blank  shot  of  more  than  five  hundi-ed  In- 


188  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

diaii  warrioi-s.  Some  of  tlie  girls  could  not  help 
betraying  symptoms  of  terror,  but  the  married 
women,  in  general,  moved  \Yith  a  readiness  and 
composure  which  completely  deceived  the  In- 
dians. Not  a  shot  was  fired.  The  party  were 
permitted  to  fill  their  buckets,  one  after  another, 
wthout  interruption  ;  and  although  their  stej)s 
became  quicker  and  quicker,  on  their  retm*n,  and 
Avhen  near  the  gate  of  the  fort,  degenerated  into 
a  rather  unmilitary  celerity,  attended  with  some 
little  crowding  in  passing  the  gate,  yet  not  more 
than  one-fifth  of  the  water  was  S2:)illed,  and  the 
eyes  of  the  youngest  had  not  dilated  to  more 
than  double  their  ordinary  size. 

"Being  now  amply  supplied  with  water,  they 
sent  out  thirteen  young  men  to  attack  the  decoy 
party,  with  orders  to  fire  with  great  rapidity^ 
and  make  as  much  noise  as  possible,  but  not  to 
pursue  the  enemy  too  far,  while  the  rest  of  the 
garrison  took  post  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
fort,  cocked  their  guns,  and  stood  in  readiness  to 
receive  the  ambuscade  as  soon  as  it  was  un- 
masked. The  firing  of  the  light  parties  on  the 
Lexington  road  was  soon  heard,  and  quickly  be- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  180 

came  sliai^p  and  serious,  gradually  becoming 
more  distant  from  the  fort.  Instantly,  Girty 
sprung  up  at  the  head  of  his  five  hundred  war- 
riors, and  rushed  rapidly  upon  the  western  gate, 
ready  to  force  his  way  over  the  undefended 
palisades.  Into  this  immense  mass  of  dusky 
bodies,  the  garrison  poured  several  rapid  volleys 
of  rifle  balls  with  destructive  effect.  Their  con- 
sternation may  be  imagined.  With  wild  cries 
they  dispersed  on  the  right  and  left,  and  in  two 
minutes  not  an  Indian  was  to  be  seen.  At  the 
same  time,  the  party  who  had  sallied  out  on  the 
Lexington  road,  came  running  into  the  fort  at 
the  opposite  gate,  in  high  spirits,  and  laughing 
heartily  at  the  success  of  their  maneuver. 

"After  this  repulse,  the  Indians  commenced 
the  attack  In  regular  form,  that  is,  regular  In- 
dian  form,  for  they  had  no  cannon,  which  was 
a  great  ovemght  and  one  A\hich  we  would  not 
have  expected  them  to  make,  after  witnessing 
the  terror  with  which  they  had  inspired  the 
KentucMans  in  Byrd's  invasion. 

"Two  men  had  left  the  garrison  immediately 
upon  discovering  the  Indians,  to  carry  the  news 


190  LIFE  OF  DAKIEL  BOONE. 

to  Lexington  and  demand  succor.  On  arriving 
at  that  place  they  found  the  men  had  mostly 
gone  to  Hoy's  Station.  The  couriers  pursued, 
and  overtaking  them,  quickly  brought  them 
back.  Sixteen  horsemen,  and  forty  or  fifty  on 
foot,  staii:ed  to  the  relief  of  Bryant's  Station, 
and  arrived  before  that  place  at  two  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon. 

"To  the  left  of  the  long  and  narrow  lane, 
where  the  Maysville  and  Lexington  road  now 
runs,  there  were  more  than  one  hundred  acres 
of  green  standing  corn.  The  usual  road  from 
Lexington  to  Bryant's  I'an  parallel  to  the  fence 
of  this  field,  and  only  a  few  feet  distant  from 
it.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  was  a  thick 
wood.  Here  more  than  three  hundred  Indians 
lay  in  ambush,  within  pistol-shot  of  the  road, 
awaiting  the  approach  of  the  party.  The  horse- 
men came  in  view  at  a  time  when  the  firing  had 
ceased  and  everything  was  quiet.  Seeing  no 
enemy  and  hearing  no  noise,  they  entered  the 
jane  at  a  gallop,  and  were  instantly  saluted 
with  a  shower  of  rifle-balls,  from  each  side,  at 
the  distance  of  ten  paces. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  191 

"  At  tLe  first  shot  the  whole  party  set  spurs 
to  their  horses,  and  rode  at  full  speed  through 
u  rolling  fire  from  either  side,  which  continued 
for  several  hundred  yards,  but  owing  partly  to 
the  furious  rate  at  which  they  rode,  partly  to 
the  clouds  of  dust  raised  by  the  horses'  feet, 
they  all  entered  the  fort  unhiu't.  The  men  on 
foot  were  less  fortunate.  They  were  advancing 
through  the  corn-field,  and  might  have  reached 
the  fort  in  safety  but  for  their  eagerness  to  suc- 
cor their  friends.  Without  reflecting  that,  from 
the  weight  and  extent  of  the  fire,  the  enemy 
must  have  been  ten  times  their  number,  they 
ran  up  with  inconsiderate  courage  to  the  spot 
where  the  firing  was  heard,  and  there  found 
themselves  cut  off  from  the  fort,  and  within 
pistol-shot  of  more  than  three  hundred  savages. 

"Fortunately  the  Indians'  guns  had  just  been 
discharged,  and  they  had  not  yet  had  leisure  to 
reload.  At  the  sight  of  this  brave  body  of 
footmen,  however,  they  raised  a  hideous  yell, 
and  rushed  upon  them,  tomahawk  in  hand. 
Nothing  but  the  high  corn  and  their  loaded 
rifles   could   have    saved   them    from   destruc- 


192  Lli'E  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tdon.  The  Indians  were  cautious  in  rusMng 
upon  a  loaded  rifle  witli  only  a  tomahawk,  and 
when  they  halted  to  load  theii^  pieces,  the  Ken- 
tuckians  ran  with  great  rapidity,  turning  and 
dodging  through  the  corn  in  every  direction. 
Some  entered  the  wood  and  escaped  through 
the  thickets  of  cane,  some  were  shot  down  in 
the  corn-field,  others  maintained  a  running 
fight,  halting  occasionally  behind  trees  and 
keeping  the  enemy  at  bay  with  their  rifles ;  for, 
of  all  men,  the  Indians  are  generally  the  most 
cautious  in  exposing  themselves  to  danger.  A 
stout,  active,  young  fellow  was  so  hard  pressed 
by  Girty  and  several  savages,  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  discharge  his  rifle  (however  unwilling, 
having  no  time  to  reload  it),  and  Girty  fell. 

"It  happened,  however,  that  a  piece  of  thick 
sole-leather  was  in  his  shot-pouch  at  the  time, 
which  received  the  ball,  and  preserved  his  life, 
although  the  force  of  the  blow  felled  him  to 
the  ground.  The  savages  halted  upon  his  fall, 
and  the  young  man  escaped.  Although  the 
skirmish  and  the  race  lasted  more  than  an  hour, 
during  which  the  corn-field  presented  a  scene 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  193 

of  tui^moil  and  bustle  which  can  scarcely  be 
conceived,  yet  very  few  lives  were  lost.  Only 
six  of  the  white  men  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  probably  still  fewer  of  the  enemy,  as  the 
whites  never  fired  until  absolutely  necessary, 
but  reserved  their  loads  as  a  check  upon  the 
enemy.  Had  the  Indians  pursued  them  to 
Lexington,  they  might  have  possessed  themselves 
of  it  without  resistance,  as  there  was  no  force 
there  to  oppose  them ;  but  after  following  the 
fugitives  for  a  few  hundred  yards,  they  returned 
to  the  hopeless  siege  of  the  foi-t."  * 

The  day  ^vas  nearly  over,  and  the  Indians 
were  discom^aged.  The\^  had  made  no  percep- 
tible impression  upon  the  fort,  but  had  sustained 
a  severe  loss ;  the  country  was  aroused,  and  they 
feared  to  find  themselves  outnumbered  in  their 
turn,  Girty  determined  to  attempt  to  frighten 
them  into  a  capitulation.  For  this  piu'pose  he 
cautiously  approached  the  works,  and  suddenly 
showed  himself  on  a  large  stump,  from  which 
he  addressed  the  garrison.  After  extolling 
their  valor,  he  assured  them  that  their  resistance 

*  McClung. 
X3 


194:  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

was  useless,  as  lie  expected  Ms  artillery  shortly, 
when  their  fort  would  be  crushed  without  diffi- 
culty. He  promised  them  perfect  security  for 
their  lives  if  they  surrendered,  and  menaced 
them  with  the  usual  inflictions  of  Indian  rage  if 
they  refused.  He  concluded  by  asking  if  they 
knew  him.  The  garrison  of  course  gave  no 
credit  to  the  promises  of  good  treatment  con- 
tained in  this  speech.  They  were  too  well 
acquainted  with  the  facility  with  which  such 
pledges  were  given  and  violated ;  but  the  men- 
tion of  cannon  was  rather  alarming,  as  the  ex- 
pedition of  Colonel  B}Td  was  fresh  in  the  minds 
of  all.  None  of  the  leaders  made  any  answer 
to  Girty,  but  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Rey- 
nolds took  upon  himself  to  reply  to  it.  In  re- 
gard to  the  question  of  Giii}y,  "Whether  the 
garrison  knew  him  ?  "  he  said  : 

" '  That  he  was  very  weU  known  ;  that  he  him- 
self had  a  worthless  dog,  to  which  he  had  given 
the  name  of  "Simon  Girty,"  in  consequence 
of  his  striking  resemblance  to  the  man  of  that 
name  ;  that  if  he  had  either  artillery  or  reinforce- 
ments, he  might  bring  them  up  and  be  d d  ; 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  EOONE.  J  95 

that  if  either  himself,  or  any  of  the  naked 
rascals  with  him,  found  their  way  into  the  fort, 
they  would  disdain  to  use  their  guns  against 
them,  but  would  drive  them  out  again  with 
switches,  of  which  they  had  collected  a  great 
number  for  that  iiui^-^ose  alone ;  and  finally  he 
declared  that  they  also  expected  reinforcements ; 
that  the  whole  country  was  marching  to  their 
assistance ;  that  if  Girty  and  his  gang  of  mur- 
derers remained  twenty-four  hom^s  longer  before 
the  fort,  their  scalps  would  be  found  drying  in 
the  sun  upon  the  roofs  of  their  cabins.' "  * 

Girty  affected  much  sorrow  for  the  inevita- 
ble destruction  which  he  assured  the  ganison 
awaited  them,  in  consequence  of  their  obstinacy. 
All  idea  of  continuing  the  siege  was  now  aban- 
doned. The  besiegers  evacuated  their  camp 
that  very  night ;  and  with  so  much  precipi- 
tation, that  meat  was  left  roasting  before  the 
fires.  Though  we  cannot  wonder  at  this  relin- 
quishing of  a  long-cherished  scheme  when  we 
consider  the  character  of  the  Indians,  yet  it 
would  be  impossible  to  account  for  the  appear- 

*  McClung. 


19(5  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

ance  of  precipitancy,  and  even  terror,  ^y\i}{ 
which  their  retreat  was  accompanied,  did  we  not 
perceive  it  to  be  the  first  of  a  series  of  similar 
artifices,  designed  to  draw  on  their  enemies  to 
theii'  own  destruction.  There  ^vas  nothing  in 
the  circumstances  to  excite  great  apprehensions. 
To  be  sure,  they  had  been  repulsed  in  their  at- 
tempt on  the  fort  ^\ath  some  loss,  yet  this  loss 
(thirty  men)  would  by  no  means  have  deten'ed 
a  European  force  of  similar  numbers  from  prose- 
cuting the  enterprise. 

Gii'ty  and  his  great  Indian  army  retired  to- 
ward Euddle's  and  Martin's  Stations,  on  a  cir- 
cuitous route,  toward  Lower  Blue  Licks.  They 
expected,  however,  to  be  pursued,  and  evidently 
desired  it,  as  they  left  a  broad  trail  behind 
them,  and  marked  the  trees  which  stood  on  their 
route  with  their  tomahawks.* 

*  Frost ;    **  Border  Wars  of  the  West."    Peck  :    "  Life  of 
Boone."    McCliing  :  "  Western  Adventure." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Arrival  of  reinforcements  at  Bryant's  Station — Colonel  Daniel 
Boone,  his  son  and  brother  among  them — Colonels  Trigg, 
Todd,  and  others— Great  number  of  commissioned  officers 
— Consultation — Pursuit  commenced  without  waiting  for 
Colonel  Logan's  reinforcement — Indian  Trail — Apprehen- 
sions of  Boone  and  others — Arrival  at  the  Blue  Licks — In^ 
dians  seen — Consultation — Colonel  Boone's  opinion — Rash 
conduct  of  Major  McGary  —  Battle  of  Blue  Licks  com- 
menced—Fierce encounter  with  the  Indians— Israel  Boone, 
Colonels  Todd  and  Trigg,  and  Majors  Harland  and  McBride 
killed — Attempt  of  the  Indians  to  outflank  the  whites — 
Retreat  of  the  whites — Colonel  Boone  nearly  surrounded  by 
Indians— Cuts  his  way  through  them,  and  returns  to 
Bryant's  Station — Great  slaughter— Bravery  of  Netherland 
— Noble  conduct  of  Reynolds  in  saving  Captain  Patterson — 
Loss  of  the  whites — Colonel  Boone's  statement — Remarks 
on  McGary's  conduct — The  fugitives  meet  Colonel  Logan 
with  his  party  —  Return  to  the  field  of  battle  —  Logan 
returns  to  Bryant's  Station. 

The  intelligence  of  tlie  siege  of  Bryant's 
Station  had  spread  far  and  wide,  and  the  whole 
region  round  was  in  a  state  of  intense  excite- 
ment. The  next  morning  after  the  enemy's  re- 
treat reinforcements  began  to  arrive,  and  in  the 

course  of  the  day  successive  bodies  of  militia 

197 


198  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

presented  themselves,  to  the  number  of  one 
liimdi'ed  and  eighty  men. 

Among  this  number  was  Colonel  Daniel 
Boone,  his  son  Israel,  and  his  brother  Samuel, 
with  a  strong  party  of  men  from  Boonesborough. 
Colonel  Stephen  Trigg  led  a  similar  corps  from 
HaiTodsburg ;  and  Colonel  John  Todd  headed 
the  militia  from  Lexington.  Majors  Harland, 
McGary,  McBride,  and  Levi  Todd  were  also 
among  the  arrivals.* 

It  is  said  that  nearly  one-third  of  the  whole 
force  assembled  at  Bryant's  Station  were  com- 
missioned officers,  many  of  whom  had  hurried 
to  the  relief  of  their  countrymen.  This  supe- 
rior acti\dty  is  to  be  accounted  for  by  the 
fact  that  the  officers  were  generally  selected 
from  the  most  active  and  skilful  of  the 
pioneers. 

A  consultation  was  held  in  a  tumultuous 
manner,  and  it  was  determined  to  pui'sue  the 
enemy  at  once.  The  Indians  had  retreated  by 
way  of  the  Lower  Blue  Licks.  The  pursuit  was 
commenced  without  waiting  for  the  junction  of 
*  Peck. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  199 

Colonel  Logan,  who  was  known  to  be  coming 
up  w  ith  a  strong  reinforcement.  The  trail  of 
the  enemy  exhibited  a  degree  of  carelessness 
very  unusual  in  an  Indian  retreat.  Various  arti- 
cles were  strewn  along  the  path,  as  if  in  terror 
they  had  been  abandoned.  These  symptoms, 
while  they  increased  the  ardor  of  the  young 
men,  excited  the  apprehensions  of  the  more  ex- 
perienced borderers,  and  Boone  in  particular. 
He  noticed  that,  amid  all  the  signs  of  disorder 
80  la\ashly  displayed,  the  Indians  seemed  to 
take  even  unusual  care  to  conceal  their  numbers 
by  contracting  their  camp.  It  would  seem  that 
the  Indians  had  rather  overdone  their  stratagem. 
It  was  very  natural  to  those  not  much  experi- 
enced in  Indian  warfare  to  suppose  that  the 
articles  found  stre^\'n  along  the  road  had  been 
abandoned  in  the  hurry  of  flight;  but  w^hen 
they  found  that  the  utmost  pains  had  been 
taken  to  point  out  the  way  to  them  by  chopping 
the  trees,  one  W'Ould  have  thought  that  the 
rawest  among  them,  who  had  only  spent  a  few 
months  on  the  border,  could  have  seen  through 
so  transparent  an  artifice.     But  these  indications 


200  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

were  disregarded  in  tlie  desire  felt  to  punish 
the  Indians  for  their  invasion. 

Nothing  was  seen  of  the  enemy  till  the  Ken 
tuckians  reached  the  Blue  Licks.  Here,  just 
as  they  arrived  at  Licking  Eiver,  a  few  Indians 
were  seen  on  the  other  side,  retreating  without 
any  appearance  of  alarm.  The  troo23s  now 
made  a  halt,  and  the  officers  held  a  consultation 
to  determine  on  the  course  to  be  pursued. 
Colonel  Daniel  Boone,  on  being  appealed  to  as 
the  most  experienced  2)^i'son  present,  gave  his 
opinion  as  follows  : 

"  That  their  situation  was  critical  and  deli- 
cate ;  that  the  force  opposed  to  them  was  un- 
doubtedly numerous  and  ready  for  battle,  as 
might  readily  be  seen  from  the  leisurely  retreat 
of  the  few  Indians  who  had  appeared  upon  the 
crest  of  the  hill ;  that  he  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  ground  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Licks,  and  was  apprehensive  than  an  ambuscade 
was  formed  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  in  advance, 
where  two  ravines,  one  upon  each  side  of  the 
ridge,  ran  in  such  a  manner  that  a  concealed 
enemy  might  assail  them  at  once  both  in  front 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  201 

and  flank  before  they  were   apprized   of  tlie 
danger. 

"It  would  be  proper,  therefore,  to  do  one 
of  Uvo  things :  either  to  await  the  arrival  of 
Logan,  wlio  was  now  undoubtedly  on  his  march 
to  join  them  ;  or,  if  it  was  determined  to  attack 
without  delay,  that  one-half  of  their  number 
should  march  up  the  river,  which  there  bends 
in  an  elliptical  form,  cross  at  the  rapids,  and 
fall  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  while  the  other 
division  attacked  them  in  front.  At  any  rate, 
he  strongly  urged  the  necessity  of  reconnoitering 
the  ground  carefully  before  the  main  body 
crossed  the  river."  * 

McClung,  in  his  "Western  Adventures," 
doubts  whether  the  plan  of  operation  proposed 
by  Colonel  Boone  would  have  been  more  sue- 
cessful  than  tliat  actually  adopted,  suggesting 
that  the  enemy  would  have  cut  them  off  in  de- 
tail, as  at  Estill's  defeat. 

But  before  the  officers  could  come  to  any 
conclusion.  Major  McGary  dashed  into  the  river 
on  horseback,  calling  on  all  who  were  not  cowards 

*  MoClung, 


202  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

to  follow.  The  next  moment  the  whole  of  the 
party  were  advancing  to  the  attack  with  the 
greatest  ardor,  but  without  any  order  whatever. 
Horse  and  foot  struggled  through  the  river  to- 
gether, and,  without  waiting  to  form,  rushed  up 
the  ascent  from  the  shore. 

"  Suddenly,"  says  McClung,  "  the  van  halted. 
They  had  reached  the  spot  mentioned  by  Boone, 
where  the  two  ravines  head,  on  each  side  of  the 
ridge.  Here  a  body  of  Indians  presented  them- 
selves, and  attacked  the  van.  McGary's  party 
instantly  retm-ned  the  fire  but  under  great  dis- 
advantage. They  were  upon  a  bare  and  open 
ridge ;  the  Indians  in  a  bushy  ra\'ine.  The 
center  and  rear,  ignorant  of  the  ground,  hurried 
up  to  the  assistance  of  the  van,  but  were  soon 
stopped  by  a  terrible  fire  from  the  ravine  which 
flanked  them.  They  found  themselves  enclosed 
as  if  in  the  Avings  of  a  net,  destitute  of  proper 
shelter,  while  the  enemy  were  in  a  great  measure 
covered  from  their  fire.  Still,  however,  they 
maintained  their  ground.  The  action  became 
wai'm  and  bloody.  The  parties  gradually 
closed,  the  Indians  emerged  from  the  ravine, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  2U3 

and  the  fire  became  mutually  destructive.  The 
officers  suffered  dreadfully.  Todd  and  Trigg  in 
the  rear,  Haiiand,  McBride  and  j^oung  Israel 
Boone  in  front,  were  already  killed. 

"The  Indians  gradually  extended  their  line  to 
turn  the  right  of  the  Kentuckians,  and  cut  off 
their  retreat.  This  was  quickly  perceived  by 
the  weight  of  the  fire  from  that  quarter,  and  the 
rear  instantly  fell  back  in  disorder,  and  at- 
tempted to  rush  through  their  only  opening  to 
the  river.  The  motion  quickly  communicated 
itseK  to  the  van,  and  a  hurried  retreat  became 
general.  The  Indians  instantly  sprung  forward 
in  pursuit,  and,  falling  upon  them  with  their 
tomahawks,  made  a  cruel  slaughter.  From  the 
battle-ground  to  the  river  the  spectacle  was  ter- 
rible. The  horsemen,  generally,  escaped ;  but 
the  foot,  particularly  the  van,  which  had  ad- 
vanced furthest  within  the  wings  of  the  net, 
were  almost  totally  destroyed.  Colonel  Boone, 
after  witnessing  the  death  of  his  son  and  many 
of  his  dearest  friends,  found  himself  almost  en- 
tirely surrounded  at  the  very  commencement  of 
the  retreat. 


204  LIFE  OF  DAKIEL  BOONE. 

"Several  hundred  Indians  were  between  Mm 
and  the  ford,  to  which  the  great  mass  of  the 
fugitives  were  bending  their  flight,  and  to  which 
the  attention  of  the  savages  was  principally 
directed.  Being  intimately  acquainted  A^dth 
the  ground,  he,  together  with  a  few  friends, 
dashed  into  the  ravine  which  the  Indians  had 
occupied,  but  which  most  of  them  had  now  left 
to  join  in  the  pursuit.  After  sustaining  one  or 
two  hesivj  fires,  and  baffling  one  or  two  small 
parties  who  pursued  him  for  a  short  distance, 
he  crossed  the  river  below  the  ford  by  swim- 
ming, and,  entering  the  wood  at  a  point  where 
there  was  no  pursuit,  returned  by  a  circuitous 
route  to  Bryant's  Station.  In  the  meantime 
the  great  mass  of  the  victors  and  vanquished 
crowded  the  bank  of  the  ford. 

"The  slaughter  was  great  in  the  river.  The 
ford  was  crowded  ^\dth  horsemen  and  foot  and 
Indians,  all  mingled  together.  Some  were  com- 
pelled to  seek  a  passage  above  by  swimming; 
some  who  could  not  swim  were  ovei-taken  and 
killed  at  the  edge  of  the  water.  A  man  by  the 
name  of  Netherland,  who  had  formerly  been 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  205 

strongly  suspected  of  cowardice,  here  displayed 
a  coolness  and  presence  of  mind  equally  noble 
and  unexpected.  Being  finely  mounted,  he  had 
outstripped  the  great  mass  of  fugitives,  and 
crossed  the  ri\'er  in  safety.  A  dozen  or  twenty 
horsemen  accompanied  him,  and,  having  placed 
the  river  between  tliem  and  the  enemy,  showed 
a  disposition  to  continue  their  flight,  mthout 
regard  to  the  safety  of  their  friends  ^vho  were 
on  foot  and  still  struggling  with  the  ciUTent. 
"Netherland  instantly  checked  his  horse,  and 
in  a  loud  voice  called  upon  his  companions  to 
halt,  fire  upon  the  Indians,  and  save  those  who 
were  still  in  the  stream.  The  party  instantly 
obeyed,  and,  facing  about,  poured  a  close  and 
fatal  discharge  of  rifles  upon  the  foremost  of 
the  pursuers.  The  enemy  instantly  fell  back 
from  the  opposite  bank,  and  gave  time  for  the 
harassed  and  miserable  footmen  to  cross  in 
safety.  The  check,  however,  was  but  momen- 
tary. Indians  were  seen  crossing  in  great  num- 
bers above  and  below,  and  tlie  flight  again 
became  general.  Most  of  the  foot  left  the  great 
buffalo  track,  and  plunging  into  the  thickets, 


200  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE, 

escaped  by  a  circuitous  route  to  Bryant's  Sta- 
tion." 

Tlie  pursuit  was  kept  up  for  twenty  miles, 
though  with  but  little  success.  In  the  flight 
from  the  scene  of  action  to  the  river,  young 
Ee}Tiolds  (the  same  who  replied  to  Gii-ty's 
summons  at  Bryant's  Station),  on  hoi-seback, 
overtook  Captain  Patterson  on  foot.  This 
officer  had  not  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
"wounds  received  on  a  former  occasion,  and  was 
altogether  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  rest  of 
the  fugitives. 

Reynolds  immediately  dismounted,  and  gave 
the  captain  his  horse.  Continuing  his  flight  on 
foot,  he  swam  the  riv^er,  but  was  made  prisoner 
by  a  party  of  Indians.  He  was  left  in  charge 
of  a  single  Indian,  whom  he  soon  knocked  down, 
and  so  escaped.  For  the  assistance  he  so  gal- 
lantly rendered  him,  Captain  Patterson  rewarded 
Rejmolds  with  a  present  of  two  hundred  acres 
of  land. 

Sixty  whites  were  killed  in  this  battle  of  the 
Blue  Licks,  and  seven  made  prisoners.  Colonel 
Boone,  in  his  Autobiography,  says  that  he  wag 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  207 

infonned  that  the  Indian  loss  in  killed  was 
four  more  than  that  of  the  Kentuckians,  and 
that  the  former  put  four  of  the  prisonei'S  to 
death,  to  make  the  numbers  equal.  But  this 
account  does  not  seem  worthy  of  credit,  when 
we  consider  the  vastly  superior  numbers  of  the 
Indians,  their  advantage  of  position,  and  the 
disorderly  manner  in  which  the  Kentuckians 
advanced.  If  this  account  is  true,  the  loss  of 
the  Indians  in  the  actual  battle  must  have  been 
much  greater  than  that  of  their  opponents, 
many  of  the  latter  having  been  killed  in  the 
pursuit. 

As  the  loss  of  the  Kentuckians  on  this  oc- 
casion, the  hea\de8t  they  had  ever  sustained, 
was  undoubtedly  caused  by  rashness,  it  becomes 
oiu'  duty,  according  to  the  established  usage  of 
historians,  to  attemjDt  to  show  where  the  fault 
lies.  The  conduct  of  McGary,  which  brought 
on  the  action,  appears  to  be  the  most  culpable. 
He  never  denied  the  part  which  is  generally 
attributed  to  him,  but  justified  himself  by  say- 
ing that  while  at  Bryant's  Station,  he  had 
ad\dsed  ^^'aiting  for  Logan,  but  was  met  with 


208  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

the  charge  of  cowardice.  He  believed  that 
Todd  and  Trigg  were  jealous  of  Logan,  who 
was  the  senior  colonel,  and  would  have  taken 
the  command  had  he  come  up.  This  statement 
he  made  to  a  gentleman  several  years  after  the 
battle  took  place.  He  said  also  to  the  same 
person,  that  when  he  found  tliem  hesitating  in 
the  presence  of  the  enemy,  he  "  burst  into  a 
passion,"  called  them  cowards,  and  dashed  into 
the  river  as  before  narrated.  If  this  account 
be  true,  it  may  somewhat  palliate,  but  certainly 
not  justify  the  action. 

Before  the  fugitives  reached  Bryant's  Station 
they  met  Logan  advancing  with  his  detach- 
ment. The  exaggerated  accounts  he  received 
of  the  slaughter  induced  him  to  return  to  the 
above-mentioned  place.  On  the  next  mornino" 
all  who  had  escaped  from  the  battle  were  as- 
sembled, when  Logan  found  himself  at  the  head 
of  four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  With  this 
force,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Boone,  he  set 
out  for  the  scene  of  action,  hoping  that  the 
enemy,  encouraged  by  their  success,  would  await 
hi;^  arrival,      But  when  he   reached  the  field 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOXE.  0(,9 

he  found  it  deserted.  The  bodies  of  the  slain 
Kentuckians,  frightfully  mangled,  were  strewed 
over  the  ground.  After  collecting  and  interring 
these,  Logan  and  Boone,  Unding  they  could  do 
nothing  jnore,  returned  to  Bryant's  Station, 
where  they  disbanded  the  troops. 

"By  such  rash  men  as  McGary,"  says  Mr. 
Peck,^  "Colonel  Boone  was  charged  with 
want  of  courage,  when  the  result  prov^ed  his 
superior  wisdom  and  foresight.  All  the  testi- 
mony gives  Boone  credit  for  his  sagacity  and 
correctness  in  judgment  before  the  action  and 
his  coolness  and  self-possession  in  covering  the 
retreat.  His  report  of  this  battle  to  Benjamin 
Harrison,  Governor  of  Virginia,  is  one  of  the 
few  documents  that  remain  from  his  pen." 

"  Boone's  Station^  Fayette  County^ 
August  ?>()th,  1782. 

"  Sir  :  Present  circumstances  of  affairs  cause 
me  to  write  to  your  Excellency  as  follows :  On 
the  16th  instant  a  lai'ge  number  of  Indians, 
"with  some  white  men,  attacked  one  of  our  fron- 

*  "  Life  of  Boone,"  p.  130. 
»4 


210  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tier  Stations,  known  by  the  name  of  Bryant's 
Station.  The  siege  continued  from  about  sun- 
rise till  about  ten  o'clock  the  next  day,  when  they 
marched  off.  Notice  being  given  to  the  neigh- 
boring Stations,  we  immediately  raised  one 
hundred  and  eighty-one  horse,  commanded  by 
Colonel  John  Todd,  including  some  of  the  Lin- 
coln County  militia,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Trigg,  and  pursued  about  forty  miles. 

"  On  the  19th  instant  we  discovered  the 
enemy  lying  in  wait  for  us.  On  this  discovery, 
we  formed  our  columns  into  one  single  line,  and 
marched  up  in  their  front  within  about  forty 
yards,  before  there  was  a  gun  fired.  Colonel 
Trigg  commanded  on  the  right,  myself  on  the 
left.  Major  McGary  in  the  center,  and  Major 
Hai'lan  the  advanced  party  in  front.  From  the 
manner  in  w^hich  we  had  formed,  it  fell  to  my 
lot  to  bring  on  the  attack.  This  was  done  with 
a  very  hea\y  fire  on  both  sides,  and  extended 
back  of  the  line  to  Colonel  Trigg,  where  the 
enemy  were  so  strong  they  rushed  up  and  broke 
the  right  wing  at  the  first  fire.  Thus  the  enemy 
got  in  our  rear,  with  the  loss  of  seventy-seven  of 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  211 

oiu'  men  and  twelve  wounded.  Afterward  we 
were  reinforced  by  Colonel  Logan,  whicli  made 
our  force  four  hundred  and  sixty  men.  We 
marched  again  to  the  battle-ground ;  but  find- 
ing  the  enemy  had  gone,  we  proceeded  to  bury 
the  dead. 

''We  found  forty-three  on  the  ground,  and 
many  lay  about,  which  we  could  not  stay  to 
find,  hungry  and  weary  as  we  were,  and  some- 
what dubious  that  the  enemy  might  not  have 
gone  off  quite.  By  the  signs,  we  thought  that 
the  Indians  had  exceeded  four  hundred ;  ^vhile 
the  whole  of  this  militia  of  the  county  does  not 
amount  to  more  than  one  hundred  and  thirty. 
From  these  facts  your  Excellency  may  fonn  an 
idea  of  our  situation. 

"  I  know  that  your  own  circumstances  are 
ciitical ;  but  are  we  to  be  wholly  forgotten  ?  I 
hope  not.  I  trust  about  five  hundred  men  may 
be  sent  to  our  assistance  immediately.  If  these 
shall  be  stationed  as  our  county  lieutenants  shall 
deem  necessary,  it  may  be  the  means  of  saving 
our  part  of  the  country ;  but  if  they  are  placed 
under  the  direction  of  General  Clark,  they  ^viU 


212  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

be  of  little  or  no  ser\nce  to  our  settlement. 
The  Falls  lie  one  hundred  miles  west  of  us,  and 
the  Indians  northeast ;  while  our  men  are  fre- 
quently called  to  protect  them.  1  have  encour- 
aged the  people  in  this  county  all  that  I  could ; 
but  I  can  no  longer  justify  them  or  myself  to  risk 
our  lives  here  under  such  extraordinary  hazards. 
The  inhabitants  of  this  county  are  very  much 
alarmed  at  the  thoughts  of  the  Indians  bring- 
ing another  campaign  into  our  country  this  fall. 
If  this  should  be  the  case,  it  will  break  up  these 
settlements.  I  hope,  therefore,  your  Excellency 
will  take  the  matter  into  consideration  and  send 
us  some  relief  as  quick  as  possible. 

"  These  are  my  sentiments,  without  consulting 
any  person.  Colonel  Logan  will,  I  expect,  im- 
mediately send  you  an  express,  by  whom  I 
humbly  request  your  Excellency's  answer.  In 
the  meanwhile,  I  remain, 

^'Daniel  Boone." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Indians  return  home  from  the  Blue  Licks— They  attack 
the  settlements  in  Jefferson  County— Affair  at  Simpson's 
Ci-eek— General  Clark's  expedition  to  the  Indian  country- 
Colonel  Boone  joins  it— Its  effect— Attack  of  the  Indians 
on  the  Crab  Orchard  settlement— Rumor  of  intended  inva- 
sion by  the  Cherokees— Difficulties  about  the  treaty  with 
Great  Britain— Hostilities  of  the  Indians  generally  stim- 
ulated by  renegade  whites  — Simon  Girty— Causes  of  his 
hatred  of  the  whites— Girty  insulted  by  General  Lewis- 
Joins  the  Indians  at  the  battle  of  Point  Pleasant— Story  of 
his  rescuing  Simon  Kenton— Crawford's  expedition,  and 
the  Burning  of  Crawford— Close  of  Girty*s  career. 

Most  of  tlie  Indians  who  had  taken  part  itt 
the  battle  of  the  Blue  Licks,  according  to  their 
custom,  returned  home  to  boast  of  their  victory, 
thus  abandoning  all  the  advantages  which  might 
have  resulted  to  them  from  following  up  their  suc- 
cess. Some  of  them,  however,  attacked  the  settle- 
ments in  Jefferson  County,  but  they  were  pre- 
vented from  doing  much  mischief  by  the  vigilance 
of  the  inhabitants.  They  succeeded,  however, 
in  breakino;  up  a  small  settlement  on  Simpson's 


214  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Creek.  This  tliey  attacked  in  tlie  night,  wMle 
the  men,  wearied  by  a  scout  of  several  days,  were 
asleep.  The  enemy  entered  the  houses  before 
their  occupants  were  fully  aroused.  Notwith 
standing  this,  several  of  the  men  defended 
themselves  with  great  courage.  Thompson  Ran- 
dolph  killed  several  Indians  before  his  wife  anu 
infant  were  struck  down  at  his  side,  when  he  es- 
caped with  his  remaining  child  through  the  roof. 
On  reaching  the  ground  he  was  assailed  by  two 
of  the  savages,  but  he  beat  tkem  off,  and  escaped. 
Several  women  escaped  to  the  woods,  and  two 
were  secreted  under  the  floor  of  a  cabin,  where 
they  remained  undiscovered.  Still  the  Indians 
captured  quite  a  number  of  women  and  children, 
some  of  whom  they  put  to  deatb  on  tlie  road 
home.  The  rest  were  liberated  the  next  year 
upon  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  the  English. 
General  George  Rogers  Clark  proposed  a  re- 
taliatory expedition  into  the  Indian  country,  and, 
to  carry  out  the  plan,  called  a  council  of  the 
superior  officers.  The  council  agreed  to  his  plan, 
and  preparations  were  made  to  raise  the  requisite 
number  of  troops  by  drafting,  if  there  should  be, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  215 


any  deficiency  of  volunteers.     But  it  was  not 
found  necessary  to  resort  to  compulsory  meas- 
ures, both  men  and  supplies  for  the  expedition 
were  raised  without  difficulty.     The  troops  to 
the  number  of  one  thousand,  all  mounted,  as- 
sembled at  Bryant's  Station,  and  the  Falls  of 
the  Ohio,   from   whence  the  two  detachments 
marched  under  Logan  and   Floyd  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Licking,  where  General  Clark  assumed  the 
command.     Colonel   Boone   took   part  in  this 
expedition ;  but  probably  as  a  volunteer.     He  is 
not  mentioned  as  having  a  separate  command. 
The   history   of    this   expedition,   like  most 
others  of  the  same  nature,  possesses  but  little 
interest.     The  army  with  all  the  expedition  they 
could  make,  and  for  which  the  species  of  force 
was  peculiarly  favorable,  failed  to  surprise  the 
Indians.     These  latter  opposed  no  resistance  of 
importance  to  the  advance  of  the  army.     Occa- 
sionally, a  straggling  party  would  fire  upon  the 
Kentuckians,   but   never  waited   to  receive   a 
similar  conijpliment  in  return.     Seven   Indians 
were  taken  prisoners  and  three  or  four  killed ; 
one  of  them  an  old  chief,  too  infirm  to  fly,  was 


216  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

killed  by  Major  McGaiy.  The  towns  of  the 
Indians  were  burnt  and  their  iields  devastated. 
The  expedition  returned  to  Kentucky  ^vith  the 
loss  of  four  men,  two  of  whom  were  accidentally 
killed  by  their  own  comrades. 

This  invasion,  though  apparently  so  barren  of 
result,  is  supposed  to  have  produced  a  beneficial 
effect,  by  impressing  the  Indians  \a  ith  the  num- 
bers and  courage  of  the  Kentuckians.  They 
appear  from  this  time  to  have  given  up  the  ex- 
pectation of  reconquering  the  country,  and  con- 
fined their  hostilities  to  the  rapid  incursions  of 
small  bands. 

During  the  expedition  of  Clark,  a  party  of 
Indians  penetrated  to  the  Crab  Orchard  settle- 
ment. They  made  an  attack  upon  a  single 
house,  containing  only  a  woman,  a  negro  man, 
and  two  or  three  children.  One  of  the  Indians, 
who  had  been  sent  in  advance  to  rex^onnoiter, 
seeing  the  weakness  of  the  garrison,  thought  to 
get  all  the  glory  of  the  achievement  to  him- 
self. 

He  boldly  entered  the  house  and  seized  the 
negro,  w^ho  proving  strongest  threw  him  on  the 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  217 

floor,  when  the  woman  despatclied  him  with  an 
ax.  The  other  Indians,  coming  up,  attempted 
to  force  open  the  door,  which  had  been  closed 
by  the  children  during  the  scuffle.  There  was 
no  gun  in  the  house,  but  the  woman  seized  an 
old  barrel  of  one,  and  thrust  the  muzzle 
through  the  logs,  at  which  the  Indians  re- 
treated. 

The  year  1783  passed  away  without  any  dis- 
turbance from  the  Indians,  who  were  restrained 
by  the  desertion  of  their  allies  the  British.  In 
1784,  the  southern  frontier  of  Kentucky  was 
alarmed  by  the  rumor  of  an  intended  invasion 
by  the  Cherokees,  and  some  preparations  were 
made  for  an  expedition  against  them,  which 
fell  through,  however,  because  there  was  no  au- 
thority to  carry  it  on.  The  report  of  the  hos- 
tility of  the  Cherokees  proved  to  be  untrue. 

Meanwhile  difficulties  arose  in  perfomiance 
of  the  terms  of  the  treaty  between  England  and 
the  United  States.  They  appear  to  have  orig- 
inated in  a  dispute  in  regard  to  an  article  con- 
tained in  the  treaty  pro\ading  that  the  British 
army  should   not   carry  away  with   them   any 


218  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

negroes  or  other  property  belonging  to  the 
American  inhabitants.  In  consequence  of  what 
they  deemed  an  infraction  of  this  article,  the 
Virginians  refused  to  comply  -vvith  another, 
which  stipulated  for  the  repeal  of  acts  prohibit- 
ing the  collection  of  debts  due  to  British  sub- 
jects. The  British,  on  the  other  hand,  refused 
to  evacuate  the  western  posts  till  this  article 
w^as  complied  with.  It  was  natural  that  the 
intercoui'se  which  had  always  existed  between 
the  Indians  and  the  garrison  of  these  posts, 
during  the  period  they  had  acted  as  allies, 
should  continue,  and  it  did. 

In  the  unwritten  history  of  the  difficulties  of 
the  United  States  Government  with  the  Indian 
tribes  within  her  established  boundaries,  noth- 
ing appears  clearer  than  this  truth:  that  the 
fierce  and  sanguinary  resistance  of  the  aborigines 
to  the  encroachments  of  the  Anglo-Americans 
has  ever  been  begun  and  continued  more  through 
the  instigations  of  outlawed  white  men,  who 
had  sought  protection  among  them  from  the 
arm  of  the  law  or  the  knife  of  indi\ddual 
vengeance,  and  been  adopted  into  their  tribes, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  £19 

than  from  the  promptings  of  theii-  own  judg. 
ments,  their  disregard  of  death,  their  thirst  for 
the  blood  of  their  oppressors,  or  their  love  of 
country.* 

That  their  sense  of  wrong  has  at  all  times 
been  keen,  their  hate  deadly,  and  their  braveiy 
great,  is  a  fact  beyond  dispute;  and  that  they 
have  prized  highly  their  old  hunting-grounds, 
and  felt  a  waim  and  lively  attachment  to  their 
beautiful    village    sites,    and    regarded    with 
especial  veneration  the    burial-places  of  their 
fathers,  their  whole  history  attests ;  but  of  their 
own  weakness. in   war,   before   the  ams  and 
numbers  of  their  enemies,  they  must  have  been 
convinced  at  a  very  early  period;  and  they 
were  neither  so  duU   in   apprehension,  nor  so 
weak  in  intellect,  as  not  soon  to  have  perceived 
the  utter  hopelessness,  and  felt  the  mad  folly 
of   a  continued   contest  with  their  invaders. 
Long  before  the  settlement  of  the  whites  upon 
this  continent,  the  Indians  had  been  subject  to 
bloody  and  exterminating  wars  among  them- 
selves; and  such  conflicts  had  generally  resulted 
•  GaUagher.    "  Hesperiaji,"  voL  i.  p.  843. 


220  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

in  the  flight  of  the  weaker  party  towards  the 
West,  and  the  occupancy  of  their  lands  by  the 
conquerors.  Many  of  the  tribes  had  a  tradition 
among  them,  and  regarded  it  as  their  unchange- 
able destiny,  that  they  were  to  journey  from 
the  rising  to  the  setting  sun,  on  tlieir  way  to 
the  bright  waters  and  the  gi'een  forests  of  the 
''Spirit  Land,"  and  the  ^vorHng  out  of  this 
destiny  seems  apparent,  if  not  in  the  location, 
course,  and  character  of  the  tumuli  and  other 
remains  of  the  great  aboriginal  nations  of  whom 
even  tradition  furnishes  no  account,  certainly 
in  what  we  know  of  the  history  of  the  tribes 
found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  by  the  first  Eui^o- 
pean  settlers. 

It  seems  fairly  presumable,  from  our  knowl- 
edge of  the  history  and  character  of  the  North 
American  Indians,  that  had  they  been  left  to 
the  promptings  of  their  o\vn  judgments,  and 
been  influenced  only  by  the  deliberations  of 
their  own  councils,  they  would,  after  a  brief, 
but  perhaps  most  bloody,  resistance  to  the  en- 
cmachments  of  the  whites,  have  bowed  to  what 
would  have  struck  their  untutored  minds  as  ay 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  221 

irie\dtable  destiny,  and  year  after  year  flowed 
silently,  as  the  European  wave  pressed  upon 
them,  fui-tlier  and  further  into  tlie  vast 
wildernesses  of  the  mighty  West.  But  left 
to  their  own  judgments,  or  their  own  delib- 
erations, tliey  never  have  been.  Early  armed 
by  renegade  white  men  with  European  weap- 
ons, and  taught  the  improvement  of  their  own 
rude  instruments  of  warfare,  and  instigated  not 
onl}^  to  oppose  the  strides  of  their  enemies 
after  territory,  but  to  commit  depredations  upon 
their  settlements,  and  to  attempt  to  chastise 
them  at  theii'  very  thresholds,  they  drew  down 
upon  themselves  the  wrath  of  a  people  which 
is  not  slow  to  anger,  nor  easily  appeased ;  and 
as  far  back  as  the  Revolution,  if  not  as  the 
colonizing  of  Massachusetts,  their  breasts  were 
fQled  wdth  a  hatred  of  the  whites,  deadly 
and  unslumberini2^.  Throuo^h  all  our  subse- 
quent  transactions  with  tliem,  this  feeling  has 
been  increasing  in  magnitude  and  intensity : 
and  recent  events  have  carried  it  to  a  pitch 
which  will  render  it  enduring  forever,  perhaps 
not  in  its  activity,  but  certainly  in  its  bitterness. 


2^22  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Whether  more  amicable  relations  with  the 
whites  during  the  first  settlements  made  upon 
this  continent  by  the  Europeans  would  have 
changed  materially  the  ultimate  destiny  of  the 
aboriginal  tribes,  is  a  question  about  which 
diversities  of  opinion  may  well  be  entertained  ; 
but  it  is  not  to  be  considered  here. 

The  fierce,  and  bloody,  and  continuous  op- 
position which  the  Indians  have  made  from  the 
first  to  the  encroachments  of  the  Anglo-x\meri- 
cans  is  matter  of  history :  and  close  scrutiny 
mil  show  that  the  great  instigators  of  that  op- 
position have  always,  or  nearly  so,  been  Tene* 
gade  wTiite  men.  Scattered  through  the  tribes 
east  of  the  Alleghanies,  before  and  during  the 
American  Revolution,  there  were  many  such 
miscreants.  Among  the  Western  tribes,  during 
the  early  settlement  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  and 
at  the  period  of  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain, 
there  were  a  number,  some  of  them  men  of 
talent  and  great  activity.  One  of  the  boldest 
and  most  notorious  of  these  latter  was  one 
whom  we  have  had  frequent  occasion  to  men- 
tion, Simon  Girty — for  many  years  the  scourge 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  223 

of  the  infant  settlements  in  the  West,  the  terror 
of  women,  and  the  bugaboo  of  children.  This 
man  was  an  adopted  member  of  the  great 
Wyandot  nation,  among  whom  he  ranked  high 
as  an  expert  hunter,  a  brave  warrior,  and  a  pow- 
erful orator.  His  influence  extended  through 
all  the  tribes  of  the  West,  and  was  generally 
exerted  to  incite  the  Indians  to  expeditions 
against  the  "  Stations  "  of  Kentucky,  and  to  acts 
of  cruelty  to  their  white  prisoners.  The  blood- 
iest counsel  was  usually  his ;  his  was  the  voice 
which  was  raised  loudest  against  his  country- 
men, who  were  preparing  the  way  for  the  intro- 
duction of  civilization  and  Christianity  into 
this  glorious  region ;  and  in  all  great  attacks 
upon  the  frontier  settlements  he  was  one  of 
the  prime  movers,  and  among  the  prominent 
leaders. 

Of  the  causes  of  that  venomous  hatred,  which 
rankled  in  the  bosom  of  Simon  Girty  against  his 
countrymen,  we  have  two  or  three  versions: 
such  as,  that  he  early  imbibed  a  feeling  of  con- 
tempt and  abhorrence  of  civilized  life,  from  the 
brutality  of  his  father,  the  lapse  from  virtue  of 


224:  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

his  mother,  and  the  corruptions  of  the  com 
munity  in  which  he  had  passed  his  boyhood ; 
that,  while  acting  with  bravery  against  the 
Indians  on  the  Virginia  border,  he  was  stung  to 
the  quick,  and  deeply  offended  by  the  appoint- 
ment to  a  station  over  his  head,  of  one  who  was 
his  junior  in  years,  and  had  rendered  nothing 
like  his  services  to  the  frontiers ;  and  that,  when 
attached  as  a  scout  to  Dunmore's  expedition,  an 
indignity  was  heaped  upon  him  Avhich  thor- 
oughly soured  his  nature,  and  drove  him  to  the 
Indians,  that  he  might  more  effectually  execute 
a  vengeance  which  he  swore  to  wreak.  The 
last  reason  assigned  for  his  defection  and  ani- 
mosity is  the  most  probable  of  the  three,  rests 
upon  good  authority,  and  seems  sufficient,  his 
character  considered,  to  account  for  his  desertion 
and  subsequent  career  among  the  Indians. 

The  history  of  the  indignity  alluded  to,  as  it  has 
reached  the  writer  ^  from  one  who  Avas  associated 
Math  Girty  and  a  partaker  in  it,  is  as  follows ; 
The  two  were  acting  as  scouts  in  the  expedition 
Bet  on  foot  by  Governor  Dunmore,  of  Virginia, 

*  Gallagher. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  225 

in  the  year  1774,  against  the  Indian  towns  of 
Ohio.  The  two  di\dsions  of  the  force  raised  for 
this  expedition,  the  one  commanded  by  Governor 
Dunmore  in  person,  the  other  by  General 
Andrew  Le^vis,  were  by  the  orders  of  the  Gov- 
ernor to  form  a  junction  at  Point  Pleasant,  where 
the  Great  Kanawha  empties  into  the  Ohio.  At 
this  place.  General  Lewis  arrived  with  his  com- 
mand on  the  eleventh  or  twelfth  of  September ; 
but  after  remaining  here  two  or  three  ^v^eeks  in 
anxious  expectation  of  the  approach  of  the  other 
division,  he  received  despatches  from  the  Gov- 
ernor informing  him  that  Dunmore  had  changed 
his  plan,  and  determined  to  marcli  at  once 
against  the  villages  on  the  Scioto,  and  ordering 
him  to  cross  the  Ohio  immediately  and  join  him 
as  speedily  as  possible.  It  was  during  the  delay 
at  the  Point  that  the  incident  occurred  which  is 
supposed  to  Iiave  had  such  a  tremendous  in- 
fluence upon  Girt>''s  after-life.  He  and  his  as- 
sociate scout  had  rendered  some  t^\^o  or  three 
months'  services,  for  which  they  had  as  yet 
drawn  no  part  of  their  pay  ;  and  in  their  present 
idleness  they  discovered  means  of  enjoyment,  of 


226  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

which  they  had  not  money  to  avail  themselves. 
In  this  strait  they  called  upon  General  Lewis  in 
person  at  his  quarters  and  demanded  their  pay. 
For  some  unknown  cause  this  was  refused,  which 
produced  a  slight  murmuring  on  the  part  of  the 
applicants,  when  General  Lems  cursed  them,  and 
struck  them  several  severe  blows  over  their  heads 
with  his  cane.  Girty's  associate  was  not  much 
hurt ;  but  he  himself  was  so  badly  wounded  on 
the  forehead  or  temple  that  the  blood  streamed 
down  his  cheek  and  side  to  the  floor.  He 
quickly  turned  to  leave  the  apartment,  but,  on 
reaching  the  door,  wheeled  round,  planted  his 
feet  firmly  upon  the  sill,  braced  an  arm  against 
either  side  of  the  frame,  fixed  his  keen  eyes 
unflinchingly  upon  the  general,  uttered  the  ex- 
clamation, "  Bij  God^  si/\  your  quarters  shall 
swim  ill  hlood  for  this  !  "  and  instantly  disap- 
peared beyond  pursuit. 

General  Le^vis  was  not  much  pleased  mth 
the  sudden  and  apparently  causeless  change 
which  Governor  Dunmore  had  made  in  the  plan 
of  the  expedition.  Nevertheless,  he  immedi- 
ately prepared  to  obey  the  new  orders,  and  had 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^27 

given  dli^ections  for  the  construction  of  rafts 
upon  widch  to  cross  the  Ohio,  when,  before  day- 
light on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  October, 
some  of  the  scouts  suddenly  entered  the  encamp- 
ment with  the  infonnation  that  an  immense 
body  of  Indians  was  just  at  hand,  hastening 
upon  the  Point.  This  was  the  force  of  the 
brave  and  skilful  chief  Cornstalk,  whose  genius 
and  valor  were  so  conspicuous  on  that  day, 
throughout  the  whole  of  which  raged  the 
hardly-contested  and  most  bloody  Battle  of  the 
Point,  Givtj  had  fled  from  General  Lewis  im- 
mediately to  the  chief  Cornstalk,  forsworn  his 
white  nature,  and  leagued  himself  with  the  Eed- 
man  forever;  and  ^vith  the  Indians  he  was  now 
advancing,  under  the  cover  of  night,  to  sui'prise 
the  Virginian  camp.  At  the  distance  of  only  a 
mile  from  the  Point  Cornstalk  was  met  by  a  de- 
tachment of  the  Virginians,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Charles  Lewis,  a  brother  of  the  gen- 
eral ;  and  here,  about  sunrise  on  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1774,  commenced  one  of  the  longest, 
severest,  and  bloodiest  battles  ever  fought  upon 
the   Western  frontiers.     It  terminated,  as  we 


^28  ^i?^£^  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

have  seen,  about  sunset,  with  the  defeat  of  the 
Indians,  it  is  ti-ue,  but  with  a  loss  to  the  whites 
which  carried  mourning  into  many  a  mansion  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  and  which  ^vas  keenly  felt 
throughout  the  countiy  at  the  time,  and  remem- 
bered with  sorrow  long  after. 

Gii*ty  having  thrown  himself  among  the  In- 
dians, as  has  been  related,  and  embraced  their 
cause,  now  retreated  with  them  into  the  interior 
of  Ohio,  and  ever  after  followed  their  fortunes 
without  swerving.  On  arriving  at  the  to^vns  of 
the  Wyandots,  he  was  adopted  into  that  tribe, 
and  established  himself  at  Upper  Sandusky. 
Being  active,  of  a  strong  constitution,  fearless 
in  the  extreme,  and  at  all  times  ready  to  join 
their  war  parties,  he  soon  become  very  popular 
among  his  new  associates,  and  a  man  of  much 
consequence.  He  was  engaged  in  most  of  the 
expeditions  against  the  frontier  settlements  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Vii'ginia — always  brave  and 
always  cruel — till  the  year  1778,  when  occurred 
an  incident  which,  as  it  the  only  bright  spot  ap- 
parent on  the  whole  dark  career  of  the  rene- 
gade, shall  be  related  with  some  particularity. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  229 

Girty  happened  to  be  at  Lower  Sandusky 
this  year,  when  Kenton— known  at  that  period 
as  Simon  Butler— was  brought  in   to  be  exe- 
cuted by  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  made  him 
a  prisoner  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.     Years  be- 
f  .re,  Kenton  and  Girty  had  been  bosom  com- 
panions  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  served  together  subse- 
quently  in  the  commencement  of  Dunmore's  ex- 
pedition  ;  but  the  victim  was  already  blackened 
for  the  stake,  and  the  renegade  failed  to  recog- 
nize in  him  his  former  associate.     Girty  had  at 
this  time  but  just  returned  from  an  expedition 
against  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania  which  had 
been  less  successful  than  he  had  anticipated,  and 
was  enraged  by  disappohitment.      He,   there- 
fore, as  soon  as  Kenton   was  brought  into  the 
village,  began  to  give  vent  to  a  portion  of  his 
spleen  by  cuffing  and  kicking  the  prisoner,  whom 
he  eventually  knocked  down.     He  knew  that 
Kenton   had  come  from  Kentucky ;    and   this 
harsh    treatment    was  bestowed  in  part,  it  is 
thought,  to  frighten  the  prisoner  into  answers 
of   such  questions   as   he   might   wish   to  ask 
him.     He  then  inquired  how  many  men   there 


230  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

were  in  Kentucky.  Kenton  could  not  answer 
this  question,  but  ran  over  the  names  and  ranks 
of  such  of  the  officers  as  he  at  the  time  recollected. 
"  Do  you  know  William  Stewart  ? "  asked  Giii:y. 
"  Perfectly  well,"  replied  Kenton  ;  "  he  is  an 
old  and  intimate  acquaintance."  "  Ah  !  what  is 
your  name,  then  ?  "  "  Simon  Butler,"  answered 
Kenton  ;  and  on  the  instant  of  this  announce- 
ment the  hardened  renegade  caught  his  old  com- 
rade by  the  hand,  lifted  him  fi'om  the  ground, 
pressed  him  to  his  bosom,  asked  his  forgiveness 
for  having  treated  him  so  brutally,  and  promised 
to  do  everything  in  his  power  to  save  his  life 
and  set  him  at  liberty.  "  Syme  !  "  said  he,  weep- 
ing like  a  child,  "  you  are  condemned  to  die, 
but  it  shall  go  hard  with  me,  I  tell  you,  but  I 
will  save  you  from  tliaty 

There  have  been  various  accounts  given  of 
this  interesting  scene,  and  all  agree  in  represent- 
ing Girty  as  having  been  deeply  affected,  and 
moved  for  the  moment  to  penitence  and 
tears.  The  foundation  of  McClung's  detail 
of  the  speeches  made  upon  the  occasion  was 
a  manuscript   dictated   by  Kenton    himself  a 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^31 

nuniDer  of  years  before  his  deatiu     From  this 
write.^  we  therefore  quote  : 

"  As  soon  as  Girty  heard  the  name  he  became 
strongly  agitated  ;  and,  springing  from  his  seat, 
he  threw  iis  arms  around  Kenton's  neck,  and  em- 
braced him  with  much  emotion.     Then  turninp- 
to  the  assembled  warriors,  who   remained  aston- 
ished spectatoiB  of  this  extraordinary  scene,  li^ 
addressed  them  in  a  short  speech,  which  the  deep 
earnestness  of  his  tone,   and  the  energy  of  his 
gesture,  rendered  eloquent.     He  informed  them 
that    the  prisoner,    whom   they  had  just   eon- 
demned  to  the  stake,  was   his  ancient   comrade 
and  bosom  friend ;  that  they  had  traveled  the 
same  warpath,  slept  upon  the  same  blanket  and 
dwelt   in  the   same    wigwam.      He  entreated 
them  to  have   compassion  on   his   feelings — to 
spare   him   the   agony  of  witnessing   the   tor- 
ture of   an   old   friend   by   the   hands   of  his 
adopted  brothers,  and  not  to  refuse  so  trifling  a 
favor  as  the  life  of  a  white   man  to  the   earnest 
intercession  of  one  who  had   proved,  by   three 
years'  faithful  service,  that  he  was  sincerely  and 
zealously  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  Indians. 


232  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

"The  sj)eecli  was  listened  to  in  nnbi^keu 
silence.  As  soon  as  lie  had  finished,  s^^'eral 
chiefs  expressed  tlieir  approbation  by  a  deep 
guttiu-al  interjection,  while  others  were  ^qually 
as  forward  in  making  kno^vn  their  objections  to 
the  proposal.  They  urged  that  Iiie  fate  had  al- 
ready been  determined  in  a  large  and  solemn 
council,  and  that  they  Avould  be  acting  like 
scjuaws  to  change  their  minds  every  hour. 
They  insisted  upon  the  flagrant  misdemeanors 
of  Kenton — that  he  had  not  only  stolen  their 
horses,  but  had  flashed  his  gun  at  one  of  their 
young  men — that  it  was ^ain  to  suppose  that  so 
bad  a  man  could  ever  become  an  Indian  at 
heart,  like  their  brother  Girt\- — that  the  Ken- 
tuckians  were  all  alike — very  bad  people — and 
ought  to  be  killed  as  fast  as  they  were  taken — 
and  Anally,  they  observed  that  many-  of  their 
people  had  come  trom  a  distance,  solely  to  assist 
at  the  torture  of  the  prisoner,  and  pathetically 
painted  the  disappointment  and  chagrin  with 
which  they  would  hear  that  all  their  trouble  had 
been  for  nothing. 

'' Gij'h' listened  with   <»b\-ious  impatience  to 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  233 

the  young  warriors  who  had  so  ably  argued 
against  a  reprieve — and  starting  to  his  feet,  as 
soon  as  the  others  had  concluded,  he  urged  his 
former  request  with  great  earnestness.  He 
briefly,  but  strongly  recapitulated  his  own  serv- 
ices, and  the  many  and  weighty  instances  of 
attachment  he  had  given.  He  asked  if  lie  could 
be  suspected  of  partiality  to  the  whites  ?  When 
had  he  ever  before  interceded  for  any  of  that 
hated  race  ?  Had  he  not  brought  seven  scalps 
home  with  him  from  the  last  expedition  ?  and 
had  he  not  submitted  seven  white  prisoners  that 
very  evening  to  their  discretion  ?  Had  he  ever 
expressed  a  ^dsh  that  a  single  captive  should  be 
saved  ?  TJiis  ^vas  his  first  and  should  be  his 
last  request :  for  if  they  refused  to  Z/;/?,  what 
was  never  refused  to  the  intei'cession  of  one  of 
their  natural  chiefs,  he  would  look  upon  himself 
as  disgraced  in  their  eyes,  and  considered  as  un- 
Avorthy  of  confidence.  Which  of  their  own 
natural  warriors  had  been  more  zealous  than 
himself?  From  what  expedition  had  he  ever 
shrunk  ? — \vhat  white  man  had  ever  seen  his 
l>ack?     AVhose   tomahawk  had   been  bloodier 


23tl:  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

than  his  ?  He  would  say  no  more.  He  asked 
it  as  a  first  and  last  favor,  as  an  evidence  that 
they  approved  of  his  zeal  and  fidelity,  that  the 
life  of  his  bosom  friend  might  be  spared.  Fresh 
speakers  arose  upon  each  side,  and  the  debate 
was  carried  on  for  an  hour  and  a  half  with  great 
heat  and  energy. 

"During  the  whole  of  this  time,  Kenton's 
feelings  may  readily  be  imagined.  He  could 
not  understand  a  syllable  of  what  was  said. 
He  saw  that  Girty  spoke  Avith  deep  earnestness, 
and  that  the  eyes  of  the  assembly  were  often 
tui'ned  upon  himself  with  various  expressions. 
He  felt  satisfied  that  his  friend  was  pleading 
for  his  life,  and  that  he  was  violently  opposed 
by  a  large  part  of  the  council.  At  length  the 
war-club  was  produced,  and  the  final  vote 
taken.  Kenton  watched  its  progress  mth  thrill- 
ing emotion — which  pelded  to  the  most  rapt- 
urous delight,  as  he  perceived  that  those  who 
struck  the  floor  of  the  council-house  were  decid- 
edly inferior  in  number  to  those  w^ho  passed  it 
in  silence.  Having  thus  succeeded  in  his  benev- 
olent purpose,  Girty  lost  no  time  in   attending 


LIFE  OP  IDAKTEI.  BOONE.  235 

to  the  comfort  of  his  friend.  He  led  him  into 
his  own  wigwam,  and  from  his  o^vn  store  gave 
him  a  pair  of  moccasins  and  leggins,  a  breech- 
cloth,  a  hat,  a  coat,  a  handkerchief  for  his  neck 
and  another  for  his  head." 

In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  and  after  pass- 
ing through  some  further   difficulties,  in  which 
the   renegade  again  stood   by    him   faithfully, 
Kenton  was  sent  to  Detroit,  from  which  place  he 
effected  his  escape  and  returned  to  Kentucky. 
Girty  remained  wdth  the  Indians,  retaining  his 
old  influence,  and  continuing  his  old  career  ;  and 
four  years  after  the  occurrences  last  detailed,  in 
1782,  we  find  him  a  prominent  figure  in  one  of 
the  blackest  tragedies  that  have  ever  disgraced 
the  annals  of  mankind.     It  is  generally  believed 
by  the  old  settlers  and  their  immediate  descend 
ants,  that  the  influence  of  Gii^ty  at  this  period 
over  the  confederate  tribes  of  the  whole  north 
•west,  was  almost  supreme.     He  had,  it  is  true 
no  delegated  authority,  and  of  course  was  pow 
erless  as  regarded  the  final  determination  of  any 
important  measure  ;  but  his  voice  was  pei-mitted 
in   council  among  the  chiefs  and  his  inflaming 


230  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

haraugiies  were  always  listened  to  with  delight 
by  the  young  warriors.  Among  the  sachems 
and  other  head-men,  he  was  what  may  well  be 
styled  a  "  power  behind  the  throne  "  ;  and  as  it 
is  well  known  that  this  unseen  power  is  often 
"  greater  than  the  throne  itself,"  it  may  reason- 
ably be  presumed  that  Girty's  influence  was  in 
reality  all  which  it  is  supposed  to  have  been. 
The  horrible  event  alluded  to  above  was  the 
burniiig  of  Crmvford ;  and  as  a  knowledge  of 
this  dark  passage  in  his  life  is  necessary  to  a  full 
development  of  the  character  of  the  renegade,  an 
account  of  the  incident,  as  much  condensed  as 
possible,  \vill  be  given  from  the  histories  of  the 
unfoi-tunate  campaign  of  that  year. 

The  frontier  settlements  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  had  been  greatly  harassed  by  repeated 
attacks  from  bands  of  Indians  under  Girty  and 
some  of  the  Wyandot  and  Shawanee  chiefs,  dur- 
ing the  whole  period  of  the  Kevolutionary  War ; 
and  early  in  the  spring  of  1782  these  savage 
incursions  became  so  frequent  and  galling,  and 
the  common  mode  of  fighting  the  Indians  on  the 
line  of  frontier,  when  forced  to  do  so  in  self- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  23T 

defense,  proved  so  inefficient,  that  it  was  found 
absolutely  neeessaiy  to  carry  the  war  into  the 
country  of  the  enemy.  For  this  purpose  an 
expedition  against  the  AVyandot  to^VIl8  on  the 
Sandusky  was  gotten  up  in  May,  and  put  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  William  Crawford,  a 
brave  soldier  of  the  Kevolution.  This  force, 
amounting  to  upward  of  four  hundred  mounted 
volunteers,  commenced  its  march  through  the 
wilderness  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  on  the 
25th  of  May,  and  reached  tlie  plains  of  the  San- 
dusky on  the  5th  of  June.  A  spii-it  of  insubor- 
dination had  manifested  itself  during  tlie  march, 
and  on  one  occasion  a  small  body  of  the  volun- 
teers abandoned  the  expedition  and  returned 
to  their  liomes.  The  disaffection  which  had  pre- 
vailed on  the  march  continued  to  disturb  the  com- 
mander and  divide  the  ranks,  after  their  arrival 
upon  the  very  site  (now  deserted  temporarily) 
of  one  of  tlie  enemy's  principal  towns ;  and  the 
officers,  yielding  to  the  mshes  of  theii^  men, 
had  actually  determined,  in  a  hasty  council,  to 
abandon  the  objects  of  the  expedition  and  return 
home,  if  they  did  not  meet  ^vith  the  Indians  in 


23S  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE, 

large  force  in  the  coiu^se  of  another  day^s  march. 
Scarcely  had  this  determination  been  anjaounced, 
however,  when  Colonel  Crawford  received  in- 
telligence from  his  scouts  of  the  near  approach 
of  a  lai^ge  body  of  the  enemy.  Preparations 
were  at  once  made  for  the  engagement,  which 
almost  instantly  commenced.  It  was  now  about 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon;  and  from  this 
time  till  dusk  the  firing  was  hot  and  galling  on 
both  sides.  About  dark  the  Indians  drew  off 
their  force,  when  the  volunteers  encamped  upon 
the  battle-ground  and  slept  on  their  arms. 

The  next  day  the  battle  was  renewed  by 
small  detachments  of  the  enemy,  but  no  general 
engagement  took  place.  The  Indians  had 
suffered  severely  from  the  close  firing  which  en- 
sued upon  their  first  attack,  and  were  now  ma- 
neuvering and  awaiting  the  arrival  of  reinforce- 
ments. No  sooner  had  night  closed  upon  this 
madly  spent  day,  than  the  officers  assembled  in 
council.  They  were  unanimous  in  tlie  opinion 
that  the  enemy,  already  as  they  thought  more 
numerous  than  their  own  force,  was  rapidly 
increasing  in  numbers.     They  therefore  deter- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  230 

mined,   without  a  dissenting  voice,   to  retreat 
that  night,  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  would 
permit.     This  resolution  was  at  once  announced 
to  the  whole  body  of  volunteers,  and  the  arrange- 
ments necessary  to  carry  it  into  effect  were  im- 
mediately commenced.     By  nine  or  ten  o'clock 
everything  was  in  readiness — the  troops  properly 
disposed — and  the  retreat  begun  in  good  order. 
But  unfortunately,   says  McClung,    "they  had 
scarcely  moved   an  hundred   paces,  when  the 
report  of  several  rifles  was  heard  in  the  rear,  in 
the  direction  of  the  Indian  encampment.     The 
troops   instantly   became    very   unsteady.     At 
length  a  solitary  voice,  in  the  front  rank,  called 
out  that  their  design  was  discovered,  and  that 
the  Indians  would  soon  be  upon  them.     Nothing 
more  was  necessary.    The  cavalry  were  instantly 
broken ;  and,  as  usual,  each  man  endeavored  to 
save  himself  as  he  best  could.     A  prodigious 
uproar  ensued,  which  quickly  communicated  to 
the  enemy  that  the  white  men  had  routed  them- 
selves, and  that  they  had  nothing  to  do  but  pick 
up  stragglers."     A  scene  of  confusion  and  car- 
nage   now   took   place    which   almost  beggars 


2i0  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

description.  All  tliat  night  and  for  tlie  whole  of 
the  next  day,  the  work  of  hunting  out,  running 
down,  and  butchering  continued  without  inter- 
mission. But  a  relation  of  these  sad  occurrences 
does  not  properly  belong  to  this  nari'ative.  The 
brief  account  of  the  expedition  which  has  been 
given  was  deemed  necessary  as  an  introduction 
to  the  event  which  now  claims  attention. 

Among  the  prisoners  taken  hy  the  Indians 
w^ere  Colonel  Crawford,  the  commander,  and 
Dr.  Knight,  of  Pittsburg,  who  had  gone  upon 
the  expedition  as  sm^geon.  On  the  10th  of 
June  these  gentlemen  were  marched  toward 
the  principal  town  of  the  Wyandots,  where  they 
arrived  the  next  day.  Here  they  beheld  the 
mangled  bodies  of  some  of  their  late  companions, 
and  were  doomed  to  see  others,  yet  living, 
butchered  before  their  eyes.  Here,  likewise, 
they  saw"  Simon  Girty,  who  appeared  to  take  an 
infernal  delight  in  gazing  upon  the  dead  bodies, 
and  \dewing  the  tortures  which  were  inflicted 
upon  the  li^dng.  The  features  of  this  wretch, 
who  had  known  Colonel  Crawford  at  Fort  Pitt, 
were  clad  in  malicious  smiles  at  beholding  the 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  211 

brave  soldier  in  his  present  strait;  and  toward 
Dr.  Knight  he  conducted  himself  with  insolence 
as  w^ell  as  barbarity.  The  Colonel  ^vas  soon 
stripped  naked,  painted  black,  and  commanded 
to  sit  down  by  a  large  fire  which  was  blazing 
close  at  hand  ;  and  in  this  situation  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  old  women  and  young  boys 
of  the  town,  and  severely  beaten  with  sticks 
and  clubs.  While  this  Avas  going  on,  the  In- 
dians were  sinking  a  large  stake  in  the  ground, 
and  building  a  circle  of  brushwood  and  hickory 
sticks  aroimd  it,  with  a  diameter  of  some  twelve 
or  fifteen  feet.  These  preparations  completed, 
Crawford's  hands  were  tied  firmly  behind  his 
back,  and  by  his  wrists  he  ^vas  bound  to  the 
stake.  The  pile  was  then  fired  in  several  places, 
and  the  quick  flames  curled  into  the  air.  Girty 
took  no  part  in  these  operations,  but  sat  upon 
his  horse  at  a  little  distance,  observing  them 
with  a  malignant  satisfaction.  Catching  his 
eye  at  the  moment  the  pile  was  fired,  Crawford 
inquired  of  the  renegade  if  the  savages  really 
meant   to   burn  hinL     Girty  coldly  answered 

"  Yes,"  and  the  Colonel  calmly  resigned  himself 
16 


242  LIFR  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

to  Lis  fate.  The  Avhole  scene  is  minutely  de* 
scribed  in  the  several  histories  which  have  been 
written  of  this  unfortunate  expedition ;  but  the 
particulars  are  too  horrible  to  be  dwelt  upon 
here.  For  more  than  two  hom-s  did  the  gallant 
soldier  sur\dve  at  that  ilame-girdled  stake ;  and 
during  the  latter  half  of  this  time  he  was  put 
to  every  torture  which  savage  ingenuity  could 
devise  and  hellish  vengeance  execute.  Once 
only  did  a  word  escape  his  lips.  In  the  ex- 
tremity of  his  agony  he  again  caught  the  eye  of 
Girty ;  and  he  is  reported  to  have  exclaimed  at 
this  time,  "  Girty  !  Girty !  shoot  me  through 
the  heart !  Do  not  refuse  me  !  quick  ! — quick  ! " 
And  it  is  said  that  the  monster  merely  replied, 
"  Don't  you  see  I  have  no  gun,  Colonel  ? "  then 
biu*st  into  a  loud  laugh  and  turned  away. 
Crawford  said  no  more;  he  sank  repeatedly 
beneath  the  pain  and  suffocation  which  he  en- 
dured, and  was  as  often  aroused  by  a  new  tor- 
ture ;  but  in  a  little  while  the  "  vital  spark  " 
fled,  and  the  black  and  swollen  body  lay  sense- 
less at  the  foot  of  the  stake. 

Dr.  Knight  was  now  removed  from  the  spot, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  243 

and  placed  under  the  charge  of  a  Shawanee 
warrior  to  be  taken  to  Chillicothe,  where  he 
was  to  share  in  the  terrible  fate  of  his  late  com- 
panion. The  Doctor,  however,  was  fortunate 
enough  to  effect  his  escape,  and  after  wandering 
through  the  mlderness  for  three  weeks,  in  a 
state  boa-dering  on  starvation,  he  reached  Pitts- 
burg. He  had  been  an  eye-witness  of  all  the 
tortures  inflicted  upon  the  Colonel,  and  subse- 
quently published  a  journal  of  the  expedition ; 
and  it  is  from  this  that  the  particulars  have 
been  derived  of  the  several  accounts  which 
have  been  published  of  the  litrning  of  Craw* 
ford,^ 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  such  a  man 
as  Simon  Girty  could,  for  a  great  many  years, 
maintain  his  influence  among  a  people  headed 
by  chiefs  and  warriors  like  Black-Hood,  Buck- 
ongahelas,  Little  Turtle,  Tuthe,  and  so  forth. 
Accordingly  M'e  And  the  ascendency  of  the 
renegade  at  its  height  about  the  period  of  the 
expedition  against  Bryant's  Station,  already 
described ;  and  not  long  after  this  it  began  to 

*  Gallagher, 


244  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

wane,  when,  discontent  and  disappointment  in- 
ducing him  to  give  way  to  his  natural  appetites, 
he  partook  freely  of  all  intoxicating  liquors,  and 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years  became  a  beastly 
drunkard.  It  is  believed  that  he  at  one  time 
seriously  meditated  an  abandonment  of  the  In- 
dians and  a  return  to  tlie  whites  ;  and  an  anec- 
dote related  by  McClung,  in  his  notice  of  the 
emigration  to  Kentucky,  by  way  of  the  Ohio 
River,  in  the  year  1785,  would  seem  to  give 
color  to  this  opinion.  But  if  the  intention  ever 
was  seriously  indulged,  it  is  most  likely  that 
fear  of  the  treatment  he  would  receive  on  be- 
ing recognized  in  the  frontier  settlements,  on 
account  of  his  many  bloody  enormities,  pre- 
vented him  from  carrying  it  into  effect.  He  re- 
mained with  the  Indians  in  Ohio  till  Wayne's 
victory,  when  he  forsook  the  scenes  of  his  for- 
mer influence  and  savage  greatness,  and  estab- 
lished himself  somewhere  in  Upper  Canada.  He 
fought  in  the  bloody  engagement  which  termi- 
nated in  the  defeat  and  butchery  of  St.  Clair's 
army  in  1791,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  the  Fal- 
len Timbers  in  179-4,  but  he  had  no  command  in 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  245 

eitlier  of  tliose  engagements,  and  was  not  at  this 
time  a  man  of  any  particular  influence. 

In  Canada,  Girty  was  something  of  a  trader, 
but  gave  himself  up  almost  wholly  to  intoxicat- 
ing diinks,  and  became  a  perfect  sot.  At  this 
time  he  suffered  much  from  rheumatism  and 
other  diseases  ;  but  he  had  grown  a  great 
braggart,  and  amidst  his  severest  pains  he  would 
entertain  his  associates,  and  all  who  were  will- 
ing to  listen,  with  stories  of  his  past  prowess  and 
cruelty.  He  had  now  the  most  exaggerated  no- 
tions of  the  honor  attaching  to  the  character  of 
a  great  warrior  ;  and  for  some  years  before  his 
death  his  constantly-expressed  wish  was,  that  he 
might  find  an  opportunity  of  signalizing  his 
last  years  by  some  daring  action,  and  die  upon 
the  field  of  battle.  Whether  sincere  in  this 
wish  or  not,  the  opportunity  was  afforded  him. 
He  fought  with  the  Indians  at  Proctor's  defeat 
on  the  Thames  in  1814,  and  was  among  those 
who  were  here  cut  down  and  trodden  imder 
foot  by  Colonel  Johnson's  regiment  of  mounted 
Kentuckians. 

Of  the  birthplace  and  family  of  Simon  Girty 


24g  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

we  have  not  been  able  to  procure  any  aatisfac- 
tory  information.  It  is  generally  supposed, 
from  tlie  fact  that  nearly  all  of  his  early  compan> 
ions  were  Virginians,  that  he  was  a  native  of 
the  Old  Dominion ;  but  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neers (yet  living  in  Franklin  County),  who  knew 
Girty  at  Pittsburg  before  his  defection,  thinks 
that  his  native  State  was  Pennsylvania.  This 
venerable  gentleman  is  like^vise  of  the  opinion, 
that  it  was  the  disappointment  of  not  getting 
an  office  to  which  he  aspired  that  first  filled 
Girty's  breast  \^dth  hatred  of  the  whites,  and 
roused  in  him  those  dark  thoughts  and  bitter 
feelings  which  subsequently,  on  the  occurrence 
of  the  first  good  opportunity,  induced  him  to 
desert  his  countr^nnen  and  league  himself  with 
the  Indians.  That  Girty  was  an  applicant  or 
candidate  for  some  office,  and  was  defeated  in 
his  efforts  to  obtain  it  by  an  individual  who 
was  generally  considered  less  desendng  of  it 
than  he,  my  informant  has  distinct  recollections  ; 
and  also  remembers  that  his  defeat  was  occa- 
sioned principally  through  the  exertions,  in  be- 
half of  his  opponent,  of  Colonel  William  Craw- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  2J:7 

ford.  This  affords  a  key  to  the  cause  of  Girfey's 
fiendlike  conduct  toward  the  Colonel  when, 
some  ten  years  afterward,  the  latter  was  bound 
to  the  stake  at  one  of  the  Wyandot  towns,  and 
in  the  extremity  of  his  agony  besought  the  rene- 
gade to  put  an  end  to  his  misery  by  shooting 
him  through  the  heart:  it  offers  no  apology, 
however,  for  Girty's  brutality  on  that  occasion. 
The  career  of  the  renegade,  commenced  by 
treason  and  pursued  through  blood  to  the  knee, 
affords  a  good  lesson,  which  might  well  receive 
some  remark;  but  this  nan^ative  has  already 
extended  to  an  unexpected  length,  and  must 
here  close.  It  is  a  dark  record  ;  but  the  his- 
tories of  all  new  countries  contain  somewhat 
similar  passages,  and  their  preservation  in  this 
form  may  not   be   altogether  without   useful- 


ness.* 


•  Gallagher. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Season  of  repose— Colonel  Boone  buys  land — Builds  a  log- 
house  and  goes  to  farming — Kentucky  organized  on  a  new 
basis — The  three  counties  united  in  one  district,  and  coiu'ts 
established — Colonel  Boone  surprised  by  Indians — Escapes 
by  a  bold  stratagem — Increase  of  emigration — Transporta- 
tion of  goods  commences — Primitive  manners  and  customs 
of  the  settlers — Hunting — The  autumn  hunt — The  hunting 
camp — Qualification  of  a  good  hunter — Animals  hunted — 
The  process  of  building  and  furnishing  a  cabin — The  hoase- 
warming. 

After  tlie  series  of  Indian  hostilities  recorded 
in  the  chapters  immediatel}'  preceding  this, 
Kentucky  enjoyed  a  season  of  comparative  re- 
pose. The  cessation  of  hostilities  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  in  1783,  and 
the  probable  speedy  cession  of  the  British  posts 
on  the  Northwestern  frontier,  discouraged  the 
Indians,  stopped  their  customary  incursions  on 
the  Kentuckians,  and  gave  them  leisure  to  ac- 
quire  and  cultivate  new  tracts  of  land. 

Colonel   Boone,  notwithstanding   the  heary 
^48 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  210 

loss  of  money  (Avhich  has  been  already  men- 
tioned) as  he  was  on  his  journey  to  North  Caro- 
lina, was  now  able  to  purchase  several  locations  of 
land.  He  had  been  compensated  for  his  military 
sei'vices  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  to 
which  Kentucky  still  belonged.  On  one  of  his 
locations  he  built  a  comfortable  log-house  and 
recommenced  farming,  with  his  usual  industry 
and  perseverance,  varying  the  pursuits  of  agri- 
culture with  occasional  indulgence  in  his  favor- 
ite sport  of  hunting. 

In  1783  Kentucky  organized  herself  on  a 
new  basis,  Virginia  having  united  three  counties 
into  one  district,  having  a  court  of  common  law 
and  chancery  for  the  whole  territory  which 
now  forms  the  State  of  Kentucky.  The  seat  of 
justice  at  first  was  at  Harrodsburg;  but  for 
want  of  convenient  accommodations  for  the 
sessions  of  the  courts,  they  were  subsequently 
removed  to  Danville,  which,  in  consequence, 
became  for  a  season  the  center  and  capital  of 
the  Stat^.* 

A  singular  and  highly  characteristic  adven- 

*  Perking.    Peck. 


^•50  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

ture,  in  wliich  Boone  was  engaged  about  this 
time,  is  thus  narrated  by  Mr.  Peck : 

"Though  no  hostile  attacks  from  Indians 
disturbed  the  settlements,  still  there  were  small 
parties  discovered  or  signs  seen  on  the  frontier 
settlements.  On  one  occasion  about  this  period 
four  Indians  came  to  the  farm  of  Colonel  Boone, 
and  nearly  succeeded  in  taking  him  prisoner. 
The  particulars  are  given  as  they  were  narrated 
by  Boone  himself,  at  the  wedding  of  a  grand- 
daughter a  few  months  before  his  decease,  and 
they  furnish  an  illustration  of  his  habitual  self- 
possession  and  tact  with  Indians.  At  a  short  dis- 
tance from  his  cabin  he  had  raised  a  small  patch 
of  tobacco  to  supply  his  neighbors  (for  Boone 
never  nsed  the  'filthy  weed'  himself),  the 
amount,  perhaps,  of  one  hundred  and  fiftj^ 
hills. 

"  As  a  shelter  for  curing  it,  he  had  built  an 
enclosure  of  rails,  a  dozen  feet  in  height,  and 
covered  it  with  cane  and  grass.  Stalks  of  to- 
bacco are  usually  split  and  strung  on  sticks 
about  four  feet  in  length.  The  ends  of  these 
are  laid  on  poles,  placed  across  the  tobacco 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  25 1 

house,  and  in  tiers,  one  above  the  other  to  the 
roof.  Boone  had  fixed  his  temporary  shelter 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  have  three  tiers.  He 
had  covered  the  lower  tier,  and  the  tobacco 
had  become  dry,  when  he  entered  the  shelter 
for  the  purpose  of  remo-sdng  the  sticks  to  the 
upper  tier,  preparatory  to  gathering  the  re- 
mainder of  the  crop.  He  had  hoisted  up  the 
sticks  from  the  lower  to  the  second  tier  and 
was  standing  on  the  poles  that  supported  it 
while  raising  the  sticks  to  the  upper  tier,  when 
four  stout  Indians  with  guns  entered  the  low 
door  and  called  him  by  name.  '  Now,  Boone, 
we  got  you.  You  no  get  away  more.  We 
cany  you  oif  to  Chill icothe  this  time.  You  no 
cheat  us  any  more.'  Boone  looked  down  upon 
their  upturned  faces,  saw  theii^  loaded  guns 
pointed  at  his  breast,  and  recognizing  some  of 
his  old  friends  the  Shawanees,  who  had  made 
him  prisoner  near  the  Blue  Licks  in  1778, 
coolly  and  pleasantly  responded,  'Ah,  old 
friends,  glad  to  see  you.'  Perceiving  that  they 
manifested  impatience  to  have  him  come  down, 
he  told  them  he  was  quite  willing  to  go  with 


252  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

them,  and  only  l)egged  they  would  wait  ^vhere 
they  were,  and  watch  him  closely,  until  he  could 
finish  removing  his  tobacco. 

"While  parleying  with  them,  inquiring  after 
old  acquaintances,  and  proposing  to  give  them 
his  tobacco  when  cured,  he  diverted  their  atten- 
tion from  his  purpose  until  he  had  collected 
too:ether  a  number  of  sticks  of  dry  tobacco,  and 
so  turned  them  as  to  fall  between  tlie  poles 
directly  in  their  faces.  At  the  same  instant  he 
jumped  upon  them  with  as  much  of  the  dry 
tobacco  as  he  could  gather  in  his  arms,  filling 
their  mouths  and  eyes  with  its  pungent  dust; 
and  blinding  and  disabling  them  from  following 
him,  rushed  out  and  hastened  to  his  cabin, 
where  he  had  the  means  of  defense.  Notwith- 
standing the  narrow  escape,  he  could  not  resist 
the  temptation,  after  retreating  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  yards,  to  look  round  and  see  the  success 
of  his  achievement.  The  Indians,  blinded  and 
nearly  suilocated,  were  stretching  out  their 
hands  and  feeling  about  in  different  directions, 
calling  him  by  name  and  cursing  him  for  a 
rogue,  and  themselves  for  fools.     The  old  man, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  253 

in  telliug  the  story,  imitated  theii*  gestures  and 
tones  of  voice  with  great  glee.'' 

Emigration  to  Kentucky  was  now  rapidly 
on  the  increase,  and  many  new  settlements  were 
formed.  The  means  of  establishing  comfortable 
homesteads  increased.  Horses,  cattle,  and  swine 
were  rapidly  increasing  in  nimiber,  and  trading 
in  various  commodities  became  more  general. 
From  Philadelphia  merchandise  was  trans- 
ported to  Pittsbui'g  on  pack-horses,  and 
thence  taken  down  the  Ohio  Kiver  in  flat- 
boats  and  distributed  among  the  settlements 
on  its  banks.  Country  stores,  land  specula- 
tors, and  paper  money  made  their  appearance, 
affording  a  clear  augury  of  the  future  activity 
of  the  "West  in  commercial  industry  and  enter- 
prise. 

Most  of  the  settlers  came  from  the  interior  of 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia ;  and  brought  with 
them  the  manners  and  customs  of  those  States. 
These  manners  and  customs  were  primitive 
enough.  The  folloAving  exceedingly  graphic 
description,  which  we  transcribe  from  "  Dod- 
dridge's Notes,"  will  afford  the  reader  a  compe- 


254  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tent  idea  of  rural  life  in  the  times  of  Daniel 
Boone. 

"  Hunting. — ^This  was  an  impoi'tant  part  of 
the  employment  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
country.  For  some  years  the  woods  supplied 
them  with  the  greater  amount  of  their  subsist- 
ence, and  with  regard  to  some  families,  at  certain 
times,  the  whole  of  it  ;  for  it  was  no  uncommon 
thing  for  families  to  live  several  months  Avith- 
out  a  mouthful  of  bread.  It  frequently  hap- 
pened that  there  was  no  breakfast  until  it  was 
obtained  from  the  woods.  Fur  and  peltry  were 
the  people's  money.  They  had  nothing  else  to 
give  in  exchange  for  rifles,  salt,  and  iron,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  mountains. 

"  The  fall  and  early  part  of  the  winter  was 
the  season  for  hunting  deer,  and  the  Avhole  of 
the  winter,  including  part  of  the  spring,  for 
bears  and  fur-skinned  animals.  It  was  a  cus- 
tomary saying  that  fur  is  good  during  every 
month  in  the  name  of  which  the  letter  r 
occurs. 

''  The  class  of  hunters  with  whom  I  was  best 
acquainted,  were  those  whose    hunting  ranges 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE,  255 

were  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  and  at  the 
distance  of  eight  or  nine  miles  from  it.  As  soon 
as  the  leaves  were  pretty  well  down,  and  the 
weather  became  rainy,  accompanied  with  light 
snows,  these  men,  after  acting  the  part  of  hus- 
bandmen, so  far  as  the  state  of  warfare  permitted 
them  to  do  so,  soon  began  to  feel  that  they  were 
hunters.  They  became  uneasy  at  home.  Every- 
thing about  them  became  disagreeable.  The 
house  was  too  wai*m,  the  feather-bed  too  soft, 
and  even  the  good  wife  was  not  thought,  for  the 
time  being,  a  proper  companion.  The  mind  of 
the  hunter  was  wholly  occupied  with  the  camp 
and  chase. 

"  I  have  often  seen  them  get  up  early  in  the 
morning  at  this  season,  ^valk  hastily  out,  and 
look  anxiously  to  the  woods  and  snuff  the  au- 
tumnal winds  with  the  highest  raptiu'e,  then  re- 
turn into  the  house  and  cast  a  quick  and  atten- 
tive look  at  the  riile  which  ^vas  ahvays  sus- 
pended  to  a  joist  by  a  couple  of  buck  horns,  or 
little  forks.  His  hunting  dog,  imderstanding 
the  intentions  of  his  master,  would  wag  his 
tail,  and  by  every  blandishment  in  his  power 


256  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

express  his  readiness  to  accompany  him  to  the 
woods. 

"  A  day  was  soon  appointed  for  the  march  of 
the  little  cavalcade  to  the  camp.  Two  or  three 
horses  furnished  with  pack-saddles  were  loaded 
with  flour,  Indian  meal,  blankets,  and  every- 
thing else  requisite  for  the  use  of  the  hunter. 

"  A  hunting  camp,  or  what  was  called  a  half- 
faced  cabin,  was  of  the  following  f onn ;  the  back 
part  of  it  was  sometimes  a  large  log ;  at  the  dis- 
tance of  eight  or  ten  feet  from  this,  two  stakes 
were  set  in  the  ground  a  fe^v  inches  apart,  and 
at  the  distance  of  eight  or  ten  feet  from  these, 
two  more,  to  receive  the  ends  of  the  poles  for 
the  sides  of  the  camp.  The  Avhole  slope  of  the 
roof,  was  from  the  front  to  the  back.  The 
covering  was  made  of  slabs,  skins,  or  blankets, 
or,  if  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  the  bark  of 
hickory  or  ash  trees.  The  front  Avas  entirely 
open.  The  fire  was  built  directly  before  this 
opening.  The  cracks  between  the  logs  were 
filled  with  moss.  Dry  leaves  served  for  a  bed. 
It  is  thus  that  a  couple  of  men  in  a  few  hours 
will  construct  for  themselves  a  temporary,  but 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  257 

tolerably  comfortable  defense,  from  the  iiiclem- 
eiicies  of  tlie  weather.  The  beaver,  otter, 
muskrat  and  squirrel  are  scarcely  their  equals  in 
despatch  in  fabricating  for  themselves  a  covert 
from  the  tempest ! 

^'A  little  more  pains  would  have  made  a 
hunting  camp  a  defense  against  the  Indians. 
A  cabin  ten  feet  square,  bullet  proof,  and  fur- 
nished with  port-holes  would  have  enabled  two 
or  three  hunters  to  hold  twenty  Indians  at  ba}^ 
for  any  length  of  time.  But  this  precaution 
I  believe  was  never  attended  to  ;  hence  the 
hunters  were  often  surprised  and  killed  in  their 
camps. 

"  The  site  for  the  camp  was  selected  with  all 
the  sagacity  of  the  ^voodsman,  so  as  to  have  it 
sheltered  by  the  surrounding  hills  from  every 
wind,  but  more  especially  from  those  of  the 
north  and  west. 

''  An  uncle  of  mine,  of  the  name  of  Samuel 
Teter,  occupied  the  same  camp  for  several  years 
in  succession.  It  Avas  situated  on  one  of  the 
southern  branches  of  Cross  Creek.  Although  I 
lived  for  many  years  not  more  than  fifteen  miles 
17 


^58  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

from  the  place,  it  was  not  till  within  a  veiy  few 
years  ago  that  I  discovered  its  situation.  It 
was  shown  me  by  a  gentleman  living  in  the 
neighborhood.  Viewing  the  hills  round  about  it 
I  soon  perceived  the  sagacity  of  the  hunter  in 
the  site  for  his  camp.  Not  a  wind  could  touch 
him  ;  and  unless  by  the  report  of  his  gun  or  the 
sound  of  his  ax,  it  would  have  been  by  mere 
accident  if  an  Indian  had  discovered  his  conceal- 
ment. 

"  Hunting  was  not  a  mere  ramble  in  pursuit 
of  game,  in  which  there  was  nothing  of  skill  and 
calculation  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  hunter,  before 
he  set  out  in  the  morning,  was  informed,  by  the 
state  of  the  weather,  in  what  situation  he  might 
reasonably  expect  to  meet  with  his  game; 
whether  on  the  bottoms,  sides  or  tops  of  the  hills. 
In  stormy  weather,  the  deer  always  seek  the 
most  sheltered  places,  and  the  leeward  side  of 
the  hills.  In  rainy  weather,  in  which  there  is 
not  much  wind,  they  keep  in  the  open  woods  on 
the  highest  ground. 

"In  every  situation  it  was  requisite  for  the 
hunter  to  ascertain  the  course  of  the  wind,  so  as 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  2o9 

to  get  the  leeward  of  the  game.  This  he  et 
fected  by  putting  his  finger  in  his  mouth,  and 
holding  it  there  until  it  became  warm,  then 
holding  it  above  his  head,  the  side  which  first 
becomes  cold  shows  which  way  the  wdnd  blows. 

"  As  it  was  requisite  too  for  the  hunter  to 
know  the  cardinal  points,  he  had  only  to  observe 
the  trees  to  ascei-tain  them.  The  bark  of  an 
aged  tree  is  thicker  and  much  rougher  on  the 
north  than  on  the  south  side.  The  same  thing 
may  be  said  of  the  moss  :  it  is  much  thicker  and 
stronger  on  the  north  than  on  the  south  side  of 
the  trees. 

"  The  whole  business  of  the  hunter  consists  of 
a  succession  of  intrigues.  From  morning  till 
night  he  Avas  on  the  alert  to  gain  the  wdnd  of 
his  game,  and  approach  them  without  being  dis- 
covered. If  he  succeeded  in  killing  a  deer,  he 
skinned  it,  and  hung  it  up  out  of  the  reach  of 
the  wolves,  and  immediately  resumed  the  chase 
till  the  close  of  the  evening,  when  he  bent  his 
course  toward  the  camp ;  when  he  arrived  there 
he  kindled  up  his  fire,  and  together  wath  his 
fellow  hunter,  cooked  his  supper.    The  supper 


260  i^iPE  or  DANIEL  BOONE. 

finished,  the  adventures  of  the  day  furnished  the 
tales  for  the  evening.  The  spike  buck,  the  Uvo 
and  three-pronged  buck,  the  doe  and  barren 
doe,  figured  through  their  anecdotes  with  great 
advantage.  It  should  seem  that  after  hunting 
awhile  on  the  same  ground,  the  hunters  became 
acquainted  ^vith  nearly  all  the  gangs  of  deer 
within  their  range,  so  as  to  know  each  flock  of 
them  when  ttey  saw  them.  Often  some  old 
buck,  by  the  means  of  his  superior  sagacity  and 
watchfulness,  saved  his  little  gang  from  the 
hunter's  skill,  by  giving  timely  notice  of  his 
approach.  The  cunning  of  the  hunter  and  that 
of  the  old  buck  were  staked  against  each  other, 
and  it  frequently  happened  that  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  hunting  season,  the  old  fellow  was  left 
the  free  uninjured  tenant  of  his  forest ;  but  if 
his  rival  succeeded  in  bringing  him  do\^^l,  the 
victory  was  followed  by  no  small  amount  of 
boasting  on  the  part  of  the  conqueror. 

"When  the  weather  was  not  suitable  for 
hunting,  the  skins  and  carcasses  of  the  game 
were  brought  in  and  disposed  of. 

''  Many  of  the  hunters  rested  from  their  labors 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  2»)1 

on  the  Sabbath  day ;  some  from  a  motive  of 
piety ;  others  said  that  whenever  they  hunted 
on  Sunday,  they  were  sure  to  have  bad  luck  on 
the  rest  of  the  week. 

"The  House- WARMmG. — I  will  proceed  to 
state  the  usual  manner  of  settling  a  young  couple 
in  the  world. 

"  A  spot  was  selected  on  a  piece  of  land  of 
one  of  the  parents,  for  their  habitation.  A  day 
was  appointed  shortly  after  their  marriage,  for 
commencing  the  work  of  building  their  cabhi. 
The  fatigue-party  consisted  of  clioppers,  whose 
business  it  was  to  fell  the  trees  and  cut  them  oft' 
at  proper  length.  A  man  A\dtli  a  team  for  haul- 
ing them  to  the  place  and  aiTanging  them,  prop- 
erly assorted,  at  the  sides  and  ends  of  the 
building ;  a  carpenter,  if  such  he  might  be  called, 
whose  business  it  ^vas  to  search  the  woods  for 
a  proper  tree  for  making  clapboards  for  the  roof. 
The  tree  for  this  purpose  must  be  straight- 
grained,  and  from  three  to  four  feet  in  diameter. 
The  boards  were  split  four  feet  long,  with  a 
large  frow,  and  as  wide  as  the  timber  would 
allow.     They  ^vere   used   without   planing   or 


/ 


2C2  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOXE. 

.sliaviijg.  Anotlier  division  were  employed  in 
getting  piinclieons  for  the  floor  of  the  cabin ; 
this  Avas  done  by  slitting  trees,  abont  eighteen 
inches  in  diameter,  and  hewing  the  faces  of  them 
with  a  broad-ax.  They  were  half  the  length 
of  the  floor  they  were  intended  to  make.  The 
materials  for  the  cabin  were  mostly  prepared  on 
the  first  day,  and  sometimes  the  foundation  laid 
in  the  evening.  The  second  day  m* as  allotted 
for  the  raising. 

"  In  the  morning  of  the  next  day  the  neigh- 
bors  collected  for  the  raising.  The  first  thing 
to  be  done  was  the  election  of  four  corner  men, 
whose  business  it  was  to  notch  and  place  the 
logs.  The  rest  of  the  company  furnished  them 
with  the  timbers.  In  the  meantime  the  boards 
and  puncheons  were  collecting  for  the  floor  and 
roof,  so  that  by  the  time  the  cabin  was  a  few 
rounds  high,  the  sleepers  and  floor  began  to  be 
laid.  The  door  was  made  by  sawing  or  cutting 
the  logs  in  one  side  so  as  to  make  an  opening 
about  three  feet  wide.  This  opening  was 
secured  by  upriglit  pieces  of  timber  about  three 
inches  thick,  through  which  holes  were  bore(J 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  S6S 

into  the  ends  of  tlae  logs  for  tte  purpose  of 
pinning  them  fast.  A  similar  opening,  but 
wider,  was  made  at  the  end  for  the  chimney. 
This  was  built  of  logs,  and  made  large,  to  admit 
of  a  back  and  jambs  of  stone.  At  the  square, 
two  end  logs  projected  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches 
beyond  the  wall,  to  receive  the  butting  poles,  as 
they  were  called,  against  which  the  ends  of  the 
first  row  of  clapboards  was  supported.  The 
roof  was  formed  by  making  the  end  logs  shoi-ter, 
until  a  single  log  formed  the  comb  of  the  roof, 
on  these  logs  the  clapboards  were  placed,  the 
ranges  of  them  lapping  some  distance  over  those 
next  below  them,  and  kept  in  their  places  by 
logs,  placed  at  proper  distances  upon  them. 

"The  roof,  and  sometimes  the  floor,  were 
finished  on  the  same  day  of  the  raising.  A 
third  day  was  commonly  spent  by  a  few  car- 
penters in  leveling  off  the  floor,  making  a  clap* 
board  door  and  a  table.  This  last  was  made  of 
a  split  slab,  and  supported  by  four  round  legs 
set  in  auger-holes.  Some  three-legged  stools 
were  made  in  the  same  manner.  Some  pins 
stuck  in  the  logs  at  the  back  of  the  house  sup- 


^^4  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

ported  some  clapboards  Avhicli  served  for  shelres 
for  the  table  furniture.  A  single  fork,  p2aeed 
with  its  lower  end  in  a  hole  in  the  "floor,  and 
the  upper  end  fastened  to  a  joist,  served  for  a 
bedstead,  by  placing  a  pole  in  the  fork  with 
one  end  through  a  crack  between  the  logs  of 
the  wall.  This  front  pole  ^vas  crossed  by  a 
shorter  one  within  the  fork,  with  its  outer  end 
through  anotlier  crack.  From  the  front  pole, 
throucrh  a  crack  between  the  loo-s  of  the  end  of 

o  o 

the  house,  the  boiirds  were  put  on  which  formed 
the  bottom  of  the  bed.  Sometimes  other  poles 
were  pinned  to  the  foik  a  little  distance  above 
these,  for  tlie  purpose  of  supporting  the  front 
and  foot  of  the  bed,  while  the  walls  were  the 
supports  of  its  back  and  head.  A  few  pegs 
around  the  walls  for  a  display  of  the  coats  of 
the  women  and  hunting-shirts  of  the  men,  and 
two  small  forks  or  buck-horns  to  a  joist  for  the 
rifle  and  shot-pouch,  completed  the  caipenter 
work. 

"In  the  meantime  masons  Avere  at  work. 
With  the  heaii;  pieces  of  the  timber  of  which 
tlie  clapboards  were  made^  they  made  billets  for 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  265 

cliunklug  up  the  cracks  between  the  logs  of  the 
cabin  and  chinniey  ;  a  large  bed  of  mortar  was 
made  for  daubing  up  these  cracks  ;  a  few  stones 
formed  the  back  and  jambs  of  the  chimney. 

"The  cabin  being  finished,  the  ceremony  of 
house-warming  took  place,  before  the  young 
couple  were  permitted  to  move  into  it. 

"  The  house-warming  was  a  dance  of  a  whole 
night's  continuance,  made  up  of  the  relations 
of  the  bride  and  groom  and  their  neighbors. 
On  the  day  following  the  young  couple  took 
possession  of  their  new  mansion." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Condition  of  the  early  settlers  as  it  respects  the  mechanic 
arts — Want  of  skilled  mechanics — Hominy  block  and  hand- 
mill  —  Sweeps  —  Gunpowder  —  Water  mills  —  Clotliing  — 
Leather — Farm  tools — Wooden  ware — Sports — Imita  ting- 
birds — Throwing  the  tomahawk — Athletic  sports — Dancing 
— Shooting  at  marks — Emigration  of  the  present  time  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  early  settlers — Scarcity  of  iron — 
Costume  —  Dwellings  —  Furniture  —  Employments  —  The 
women — Their  character — Diet — Indian  corn — The  great 
improvements  in  facilitating  the  early  settlement  of  the 
West — Amusements. 

Befoke  leaving  the  subject  of  the  actual  con- 
dition of  the  early  settlers  in  the  West,  we  take 
another  extract  from  "  Doddridge's  Notes,"  com- 
prising his  observations  on  the  state  of  the  me- 
chanic arts  amonof  them  and  an  account  of  some 
of  their  favorite  sports. 

"  Mechaotc  Arts. — In  gi^^ng  the  history  of 
the  state  of  the  mechanic  arts  as  they  were  ex- 
ercised at  an  early  period  of  the  settlement  of 
this  countiy,  I  shall  present  a  people,  driven  by 

necessity  to  perform  works  of  mechanical  skill, 
266 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOXE.  2()7 

far  beyond  wliat  a  person  enjoying  all  the  ad- 
\antages  of  civilization  would  expect  from 
a  population  placed  in  such  destitute  circum- 
stances. 

"My  reader  will  naturally  ask,  where  were 
their  mills  for  grinding  grain  ?  Where  their 
tanners  for  making  leather  ?  AVhere  their 
smiths'  shops  for  making  and  repairing  theii' 
farming  utensils  ?  Who  were  their  carpenters, 
tailors,  cabinet-workmen,  shoemakers,  and 
weavers?  The  answer  is  those  manufacturers 
did  not  exist ;  nor  had  they  any  tradesmen, 
who  were  professedly  such.  Every  family 
were  under  the  necessity  of  doing  everything  for 
themselves  as  well  as  they  could.  The  hominy 
block  and  hand-mills  were  in  use  in  most  of 
our  houses.  The  first  was  made  of  a  large 
block  of  wood  about  three  feet  long,  with  an 
excavation  burned  in  one  end,  wide  at  the  top 
and  narrow  at  the  bottom,  so  that  the  action  of 
the  pestle  on  the  bottom  threw  the  corn  up  to 
the  sides  toward  the  top  of  it,  from  whence  it 
continually  fell  down  into  the  center. 

"  In  consequence  of  this  movement,  the  whole 


268  Llf'E  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

mass  of  the  grain  was  pretty  equally  subjected 
to  the  strokes  of  the  pestle.  In  the  fall  of  the 
year  while  the  Indian  corn  was  soft,  the  block 
and  pestle  did  very  well  for  making  meal  for 
johnny-cake  and  mush;  but  were  rather  slow 
when  the  corn  became  hard. 

"  The  sweep  was  sometimes  used  to  lessen 
the  toil  of  pounding  grain  into  meal.  This  was 
a  pole  of  some  springy,  elastic  wood,  thii*ty  feet 
long  or  more  ;  the  butt  end  was  placed  under  the 
side  of  a  house,  or  a  large  stump ;  this  pole  was 
supported  by  two  forks,  placed  about  one-third 
of  its  length  from  the  butt  end,  so  as  to  elevate 
the  small  end  about  fifteen  feet  from  the 
ground ;  to  this  was  attached,  by  a  large  mortise, 
a  piece  of  sapling  about  ^ve  or  six  inches  in 
diameter  and  eight  or  ten  feet  long.  The  lower 
end  of  this  was  shaj^ed  so  as  to  answer  for  a 
pestle.  A  pin  of  wood  was  put  through  it,  at 
a  proper  height,  so  that  two  persons  could  work 
at  the  sweep  at  once.  This  simple  machine  very 
much  lessened  the  labor  and  expedited  the  work. 

"  I  remember  that  when  a  boy  I  put  up  an 
excellent  sweep  at  my  father's.     It  was  made 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^^(^ 

of  a  sugar-tree  sapling.  It  was  kept  going 
almost  constantly  from  morning  till  night  by 
our  nelgliboi's  and  friends  for  several  weeks. 

"In  the  Greenbi'iar  country,  where  were  a  num- 
ber of  saltpeter  caves,  the  first  settlers  made 
plenty  of  excellent  gunpoAvder  by  the  means 
of  those  sweeps  and  mortars. 

"  A  machine,  still  more  simple  than  the 
mortar  and  pestle,  was  used  for  making  meal 
while  the  com  was  too  soft  to  be  beaten.  It 
was  called  a  grater.  This  was  a  half-circular 
piece  of  tin,  perforated  with  a  punch  from  the 
concave  side,  and  nailed  by  its  edges  to  a  block 
of  wood.  The  ears  of  corn  were  rubbed  on 
the  rough  edge  of  the  holes,  while  the  meal  fell 
through  them  on  the  board  or  block,  to  which 
the  gi'ater  was  nailed,  which,  being  in  a  slant- 
ing direction,  dip  charged  the  meal  into  a  cloth 
or  bowl  placed  for  its  reception.  This,  to  be 
sure,  was  a  slow  way  of  making  meal ;  but 
necessity  has  no  law. 

"  The  hand-mill  was  better  than  the  mortar 
and  grater.  It  was  made  of  two  circular  stones, 
the  lowest  of  which  was  called  the  bed-stone, 


270  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE, 

the  upper  one  tie  iiinner.  These  were  placed 
in  a  hoop,  "vvith  a  spout  for  discharging  the 
meal.  A  staff  was  let  into  a  hole  in  the  upper 
surface  of  the  runner,  near  the  outer  edge  and 
its  upper  end  through  a  hole  in  a  board  fastened 
to  a  joist  above,  so  that  two  persons  could  be 
employed  in  turning  the  mill  at  the  same  time. 
The  grain  was  put  into  the  opening  in  the 
runner  by  hand.  The  mills  are  still  in  use  in 
Palestine,  the  ancient  country  of  the  Jews.  To 
a  mill  of  this  sort  our  Saviour  alluded  when, 
with  reference  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem, 
he  said  :  '  Two  women  shall  be  grinding  at  a 
mill,  the  one  shall  be  taken  and  the  other  left.' 

"  This  mill  is  much  preferable  to  that  used  at 
present  in  upper  Egypt  for  making  the  dhourra 
bread.  It  is  a  smooth  stone,  placed  on  an  in- 
clined plane,  upon  which  the  grain  is  spread, 
which  is  made  into  meal  by  rubbing  another 
stone  up  and  down  upon  it. 

"  Our  first  water  mills  were  of  that  description 
denominated  tub-mills.  It  consists  of  a  per- 
pendicular shaft,  to  the  lower  end  of  which  an 
horizontal  wheel  of  about  four  or  five  feet  iu 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  271 

diameter  is  attached,  the  upper  end  passes 
through  the  bedstone  and  carries  the  runner 
after  the  manner  of  a  trundlehead.  These  mills 
were  built  with  very  little  expense,  and  many 
of  them  answered  the  purpose  very  w^ell. 

"Instead  of  bolting  cloths,  sifters  were  in 
general  use.  These  were  made  of  deer  skins 
in  the  state  of  parchment,  stretched  over  a  hoop 
and  perforated  with  a  hot  wire. 

"  Our  clothing  was  all  of  domestic  manufac- 
ture. We  had  no  other  resom-ce  for  clothing, 
and  this,  indeed,  was  a  poor  one.  The  crops 
of  flax  often  failed,  and  the  sheep  were  de- 
stroyed by  the  wolves.  Linsey,  which  is  made 
of  flax  and  wool,  the  former  the  chain  and 
the  latter  the  filling,  was  the  warmest  and  the 
most  substantial  cloth  we  could  make.  Almost 
every  house  contained  a  loom,  and  ahnost  every 
woman  was  a  weaver. 

"Every  family  tanned  their  own  leather. 
The  tan  vat  was  a  large  trough  sunk  to  the 
upper  edge  in  the  ground.  A  quantity  of  bark 
was  easily  obtained  every  spring  in  dealing 
and    fencing  land.      This,   after    drying,   was 


2Y2  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

brought  in,  and  in  wet  days  was  shaved  and 
pounded  on  a  block  of  wood  with  an  ax  or 
mallet.  Ashes  were  used  in  place  of  lime  for 
taking  off  the  hair.  Bears'  oil,  hogs'  lard,  and 
tallow  answered  the  place  of  fish  oil.  The 
leather,  to  be  sure,  was  coarse ;  but  it  was  sub- 
stantially good.  The  operation  of  currying 
was  performed  by  a  drawing-knife  with  its  edge 
turned,  after  the  manner  of  a  curiying-knife. 
The  blocking  for  the  leather  was  made  of  soot 
and  hog's  lard. 

"  Almost  every  family  contained  its  own 
tailors  and  shoemakers.  Those  who  could  not 
make  shoes  could  make  shoepacks."  These,  like 
moccasins,  ^vere  made  of  a  single  piece  on  the 
top  of  the  foot.  This  was  about  two  inches 
broad  and  circular  at  the  lower  end.  To  this 
the  main  piece  of  leather  was  sewed,  with  a 
gathering  stitch.  The  seam  behind  was  like 
that  of  a  moccasin.  To  the  shoepack  a  sole 
was  sometimes  added.  The  women  did  the 
tailor- work.  They  could  all  cut  out,  and  make 
hunting  shirts,  leggins,  and  drawers. 

"  The  state  of  society  which  exists  in  every 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  073 

country  at  an  early  period  of  its  settlements  is 
well  calculated  to  call  into  action  every  native 
mechanical  genius.  So  it  happened  in  this 
country.  There  was  in  almost  every  neighbor- 
hood some  one  whose  natural  ingenuity  enabled 
him  to  do  many  things  for  himself  and  his 
neighbors,  far  above  what  could  have  been  rea- 
sonably expected.  With  the  few  tools  which 
they  brought  with  them  into  the  countiy,  they 
certainly  performed  wonders.  Their  plows, 
harrows  with  their  w^ooden  teeth,  and  sleds, 
were  in  many  instances  well  made.  Their 
cooper- ware,  Avhich  comprehended  everything 
for  holding  milk  and  water,  was  generally 
pretty  Avell  executed.  The  cedar- ware,  by  hav- 
ing alternately  a  white  and  I'ed  stave,  was  then 
thought  beautiful ;  many  of  their  puncheon  floors 
were  very  neat,  their  joints  close,  and  the  top 
even  and  smooth.  Their  looms,  although  heavy, 
did  veiy  well.  These  who  could  not  exercise 
these  mechanic  arts  were  under  the  necessity  of 
giving  labor  or  barter  to  their  neighbors,  in  ex- 
change  for  the  use  of  them,  so  far  as  their 
necessities  required. 


274  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

''  Sports. ™One  important  pastime  of  our 
boyB  was  that  of  imitating  the  noise  of  every 
bii'd  and  beast  in  the  woods.  This  faculty  was 
not  merely  a  pastime,  but  a  very  necessar}^  pail; 
of  education,  on  account  of  its  utility  in  ceitain 
circumstances.  The  imitations  of  the  gobbling, 
and  other  sounds  of  mid  turkeys,  often  brought 
those  keen-eyed  and  ever- watchful  tenants  of 
the  forests  within  the  reach  of  their  rifle.  The 
bleating  of  the  fawn  brought  its  dam  to  her 
death  in  the  same  way.  The  hunter  often  col- 
lected a  company  of  mopish  owls  to  the  trees 
about  his  camp,  and  amused  himself  with  their 
hoarse  screaming  ;  his  howl  would  raise  and  ob- 
tain responses  from  a  pack  of  Avolves,  so  as  to 
infoim  him  of  their  neighborhood,  as  Avell  as 
guard  him  against  their  depredations. 

"  This  imitative  faculty  was  sometimes  requi- 
site as  a  measure  of  precaution  in  w^ar.  The  In- 
dians,  when  scattered  about  in  a  neighborhood, 
often  collected  together,  by  imitating  tui'keys  by 
day  and  wolves  or  owls  by  night.  In  similar 
situations,  our  people  did  the  same.  1  have 
often   witnessed  the  consternation  of  a  whole 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  275 

settlement,  in  consequence  of  a  few  screeches  of 
owls.  An  early  and  correct  use  of  this  imitative 
faculty  was  considered  as  an  indication  that  its 
possessor  would  become,  in  due  time,  a  good 
hunter  and  valiant  wamor.  Throwing  the 
tomahawk  was  another  bo}dsh  sport,  in  which 
many  acquired  considerable  skill.  The  toma- 
hawk, ^yith  its  handle  of  a  certain  length, 
will  make  a  given  number  of  turns  in  a  given 
distance.  Say  in  five  steps,  it  will  strike  with 
the  edge,  the  handle  downward  ;  at  the  distance 
of  seven  and  a  half,  it  will  strike  with  the  edge, 
the  handle  upward,  and  so  on.  A  little  experi- 
ence enabled  the  boy  to  measure  the  distance 
with  his  e}  e,  when  "walking  through  the  woods, 
and  strike  a  tree  with  his  tomahawk  in  any  way 
he  chose. 

''The  athletic  sports  of  running,  jumping,  and 
wrestling  were  the  pastimes  of  boys,  in  common 
with  the  men. 

"  A  well-grown  boy,  at  the  age  of  twelve  or 
thirteen  years,  was  furnished  with  a  small  rifle 
and  shot-pouch.  He  then  became  a  fort  soldier, 
and  had  his  porthole  assigned  him.     Hunting 


2^g  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

squirrels,  turkeys,  and  raccoons  soon  made  him 
expert  in  the  use  of  Lis  gun. 

"  Dancing  was  the  principal  amusement  of 
our  young  people  of  both  sexes.  Their  dances, 
to  be  sui-e,  Nvere  of  the  simplest  form.  Three 
and  four-handed  reels  and  jigs.  Country  dances, 
cotillions,  and  minuets  were  unknown.  I  re- 
member to  have  seen,  once  or  twice,  a  dance 
which  was  called  "  The  Irish  Trot,"  but  I  have 
long  since  forgotten  its  figure. 

"  Shooting  at  marks  was  a  common  diversion 
amonsc  the  men,  when  their  stock  of  ammunition 
would  allow  it  ;  this,  however,  was  far  from  be- 
ing always  the  case.  The  present  mode  of  shoot- 
ing off-hand  was  not  then  in  practise.  This 
mode  was  not  considered  as  any  trial  of  the 
value  of  a  gun,  nor,  indeed,  as  much  of  a  test  of 
the  skill  of  a  marksman.  Their  shooting  was 
from  a  rest,  and  at  as  great  a  distance  as  the 
length  and  weight  of  the  baiTel  of  the  gun  would 
throw  a  ball  on  a  horizontal  level.  Such  was 
their  regard  to  accuracy,  in  those  sportive  trials 
of  their  rifles,  and  of  their  own  skill  in  the  use  of 
them,    that  they  often  put  moss,  or  some  other 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  277 

feoft  substance  on  the  log  or  stump  from  which 
they  shot,  for  fear  of  having  the  bullet  thrown 
from  the  mark  by  the  spring  of  the  barrel. 
When  the  riile  -svas  held  to  the  side  of  a  tree  for 
a  rest,  it  was  pressed  against  it  as  lightly  as 
possible,  for  the  same  reason. 

"  Riiles  of  former  times  Avere  different  from 
those  of  modern  date  ;  f  ew^  of  them  carried  more 
than  forty-five  bullets  to  the  pound.  Bullets  of 
a  less  size  were  not  thought  sufficiently  heavy 
for  himting  or  war." 

Our  readers  wall  pardon  the  length  of  these 
extracts  from  Doddridge,  as  they  convey  accu- 
rate pictures  of  many  scenes  of  Western  life  in 
the  times  of  Daniel  Boone.  We  add  to  them  a 
single  extract  from  ''  Ramsay's  Annals  of  Ten- 
nessee." The  early  settlement  of  that  State  took 
place  about  the  same  time  with  that  of  Kentucky, 
and  was  made  by  emigrants  from  the  same  re- 
gion. The  follo^^dng  remarks  are  therefore  per- 
fectly applicable  to  the  pioneers  of  Kentuck}^ 

"  The  settlement  of  Tennessee  was  unlike  that 
of  tho  j)resent  new  country  of  the  United  States. 
Emigrants  from  the  Atlantic  cities,  and  from 


2^8  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE, 

most  points  In  the  Western  interior,  now  embark 
upon  steamboats  or  other  craft,  and  earryiiig  vrith 
them  all  the  conveniences  and  comforts  of  civ- 
ilized life — indeed,  many  of  its  luxuries — are, 
in  a  few  days,  without  toil,  danger,  or  exposure, 
transported  to  their  new  abodes,  and  in  a  fev\^ 
months  are  surrounded  ^vith  the  a23pendages  of 
home,  of  civilization,  and  the  blessings  of  law 
and  of  society.  The  wdlds  of  Minnesota  and 
Nebraska  by  the  agency  of  steam,  or  the  stal- 
wart arms  of  Western  boatmen,  are  at  once  trans- 
formed into  the  settlements  of  a  commercial  and 
civilized  people.  Independence  and  St.  Paul, 
six  months  after  they  are  laid  off,  have  their  stores 
and  their  workshops,  their  artisans,  and  their 
mechanics.  The  mantua-maker  and  the  tailor 
arrive  in  the  same  boat  with  the  carpenter  and 
ma^on.  The  professional  man  and  the  printer 
quickly  follow.  In  the  succeeding  year  the 
piano,  the  drawing-room,  the  restaurant,  the 
billiard  table,  the  church  bell,  the  village  and 
the  city  in  miniature,  are  all  found,  while  the 
neighboring  interior  is  yet  a  wilderness  and  a 
desert     The  town  and  comfort,  taste  and  urban- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  279 

ity  ai^e  fii'st  ;  the  clearing,  the  farm-house^  the 
wagon  road  and  the  improved  country,  second. 
It  was  far  different  on  the  frontier  in  Ten- 
nessee. At  first  a  single  Indian  trail  was  the 
only  entrance  to  the  eastern  border  of  it,  and 
for  many  years  admitted  only  of  the  hunter  and 
the  pack-horse.  It  was  not  till  the  year  1776 
that  a  wagon  was  seen  in  Tennessee.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  want  of  roads — as  well  as  ^f 
the  great  distance  from  sources  of  supply — the 
first  inhabitants  w^ere  ^vithout  tools,  and,  of 
course,  without  mechanics — much  more,  without 
the  conveniences  of  living  and  the  comforts  of 
Jiousekeeping.  Luxuries  were  absolutely  un- 
known. Salt  ^vas  brought  on  pack-horses  from 
Augusta  and  Richmond,  and  readily  conamanded 
ten  dollars  a  bushel.  The  salt  gourd,  in  every 
cabin,  was  considered  as  a  treasure.  The  sugar- 
maple  furnished  the  only  article  of  luxury  on 
the  frontier ;  coffee  and  tea  being  unknoAvn,  or 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  settlers  ;  sugar  was 
seldom  made,  and  was  only  used  for  the  sick,  or 
in  the  preparation  of  a  sweetened  dram  at  a 
wedding,  or  the  arrival  of  a  newcomer.    The 


280  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

appendages  of  the  kitdien,  tbe  cupboard,  and  the 
table  were  scanty  and  simple. 

"  Iron  was  brought  at  great  expense,  from  the 
forges  east  of  the  mountain,  on  pack  horses,  and 
was  sold  at  an  enoi-mous  price.  Its  use  was,  for 
this  reason,  confined  to  the  constniction  and 
repair  of  plows  and  other  farming  utensils. 
Hinges,  nails,  and  fastenings  of  that  material 
were  seldom  seen. 

"  The  costume  of  the  first  settlers  corresponded 
well  with  the  style  of  their  buildings  and  the 
quality  of  their  furniture.  The  hunting-shirt  of 
the  militiaman  and  the  hunter  was  in  general 
use.  The  rest  of  their  apjDarel  was  in  keeping 
with  it — plain,  substantial,  and  well  adapted  for 
comfort,  use,  and  economy.  The  apparel  of  the 
pioneer's  family  was  all  home-made,  and  in  a 
whole  neighborhood  there  would  not  be  seen, 
at  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  a  single 
article  of  dress  of  foreign  growth  or  manufacture. 
Half  the  year,  in  many  families,  shoes  were  not 
worn.  Boots,  a  fur  hat,  and  a  coat  wdth  buttons 
on  each  side  attracted  the  gaze  of  the  beholder 
and  sometimes  received  censure  and  rebuke.     A 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  2sl 

f^tranger  from  the  old  States  cliose  to  doff  his 
niffles,  his  broadcloth,  and  his  queue,  rather 
thau  endure  the  scoff*  and  ridicule  of  the  back- 
woodsmen. 

"  The  dwelling-house,  on  every  frontier  in 
Tennessee,  was  the  log-cabin.  A  carpenter  and 
a  mason  were  not  needed  to  build  them — much 
less  the  painter,  the  glazier,  or  the  upholsterer. 
Every  settler  had,  besides  his  rifle,  no  other  in- 
strument but  an  ax,  a  hatchet,  and  a  butcher 
knife.  A  saw,  an  auger,  a  froe,  and  a  broad- 
ax  would  supply  a  whole  settlement,  and  were 
used  as  common  property  in  the  erection  of  the 
log-cabin.  The  floor  of  the  cabin  was  some- 
times the  earth.  No  saw-mill  was  yet  erected  ; 
and,  if  the  means  or  leisure  of  the  occupant 
authoiized.  it,  he  split  out  puncheons  for  the  floor 
and  for  the  shutter  of  the  entrance  to  his  cabin. 
The  door  was  hung  with  wooden  hinges  and 
fastened  by  a  wooden  latch. 

"  Such  was  the  habitation  of  the  pioneer  Ten- 
nessean.  Scarcely  can  one  of  these  structures, 
venerable  for  their  years  and  the  associations 
which  cluster  around  them,  be  now  seen  in  Ten- 


0S2  Lir'E  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

nessee.  Time  and  improvement  have  displace^l 
them.  Here  and  there  in  the  older  counties, 
may  yet  be  seen  the  old  log-house,  which  sixty 
years  ago  sheltered  the  first  emigrant,  or  gave, 
for  the  time,  protection  to  a  neighborhood  as- 
sembled within  its  strong  and  bullet-proof  walls. 
Such  an  one  is  the  east  end  of  Mr.  Martin's 
house,  at  Campbell's  Station,  and  the  center  part 
of  the  mansion  of  this  writer,  at  Mecklenburg, 
once  Gilliam's  Station,  changed  somewhat,  it  is 
true,  in  some  of  its  aspects,  but  preserving  even 
yet,  in  the  height  of  the  story  and  in  its  old- 
fashioned  and  capacious  fireplace,  some  of  the 
features  of  primitive  ai^chitecture  on  the  frontier. 
Such,  too,  is  the  present  dwelling-house  of  Mr. 
Tipton,  on  Ellejoy,  in  Blount  County,  and  that 
of  Mr.  Glasgow  Snoddy,  in  Sevier  County.  But 
these  old  buildings  are  becoming  exceedingly 
rare,  and  soon  not  one  of  them  will  be  seen. 
Their  unsightly  proportions  and  rude  architec- 
ture will  not  much  longer  offend  modern  taste, 
nor  provoke  the  idle  and  irreverent  sneer  of  the 
fastidious  and  the  fashionable.  When  the  last 
one  of  these  pioneer  houses  shall  have  fallen  into 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  2S3 

decay  and  ruins,  the  memory  of  their  first  occu- 
pants will  still  be  immortal  and   indestructible. 

"  The  intei'ior  of  the  cabin  was  no  less  unpre- 
tending and  simple.  The  whole  furniture,  of  the 
one  apartment — answering  in  these  j^ri^'Jiitive 
times  the  purposes  of  the  kitchen,  the  dining- 
room,  the  nursery  and  the  dormitory — ^were  a 
plain  home-made  bedstead  or  two,  some  split- 
bottomed  chairs  and  stools  ;  a  large  puncheon, 
supported  on  four  legs,  used,  as  occasion  required, 
for  a  bench  or  a  table,  a  water  shelf  and  a  bucket  ; 
a  spinning-wheel,  and  sometimes  a  loom,  finished 
the  catalogue.  The  wardi^obe  of  the  family  was 
equally  plain  and  simple.  The  walls  of  the 
house  were  hung  round  with  the  dresses  of  the 
females,  the  hunting-shirts,  clothes,  and  the  arms 
and  shot-pouches  of  the  men. 

"  The  labor  and  employment  of  a  pioneer 
family  were  distributed  in  accordance  with  sur- 
rounding circumstances.  To  the  men  was  as- 
signed the  duty  of  procuring  subsistence  and 
materials  for  clothing,  erecting  the  cabin  and  the 
station,  opening  and  cultivating  the  farm,  hunt- 
ing  the  mid  beasts,  and  repelling  and  pursuing 


284  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

the  Indians.  The  women  spun  the  ilax,  the  cotton 
and  wool,  wove  the  cloth,  made  them  up,  milked, 
churned,  and  prepared  the  food,  and  did  their 
full  share  of  the  duties  of  housekeeping.  An- 
other thus  desciibes  them  :  "  There  we  behold 
woman  in  her  true  glory  ;  not  a  doll  to  carry 
silks  and  jewels,  not  a  puppet  to  be  dandled  by 
fops,  an  idol  of  profane  adoration,  reverenced 
to-day,  discarded  to-morrow  ;  admired,  but  not 
respected  ;  desired,  but  not  esteemed  ;  ruling  by 
passion,  not  affection ;  imparting  her  weak- 
ness, not  her  constancy,  to  the  sex  she  should 
exalt ;  the  source  and  mirror  of  vanity.  We  see 
her  as  a  wife,  partaking  of  the  cares,  and  guid- 
ing the  labors  of  her  husband,  and  by  her 
domestic  diligence  spreading  cheerfulness  all 
around ;  for  his  sake,  sharing  the  decent  refine- 
ments of  the  world,  without  being  fond  of  them  ; 
placing  all  her  joy,  all  her  happiness  in  the  mer- 
ited approbation  of  the  man  she  loves.  As  a 
mother,  we  find  her  the  affectionate,  the  ardent 
instructress  of  the  children  she  has  i^ared  from 
infancy  and  trained  them  up  to  thought  and 
virtue,  to  meditation  and  benevolence  ;  address- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^85 

ing  them  as  rational  beings,  and  preparing  tliem 
to  become   men   and  women  in  tlieir  turn. 

"  ^  Could  there  be  happiness  or  comfort  in 
such  dwellings  and  such  a  state  of  society  ?  To 
those  who  are  accustomed  to  modern  refine- 
ments, the  truth  appears  like  fable.  The  early 
occupants  of  log-cabins  were  among  the  most 
happy  of  mankind.  Exercise  and  excitement 
gave  them  health  ;  they  were  practically  equal  ; 
common  danger  made  them  mutually  depend- 
ent ;  brilliant  hopes  of  future  wealth  and  dis- 
tinction led  them  on  ;  and  as  there  was  ample 
room  for  all,  and  as  each  newcomer  increased 
indi\ddual  and  general  security,  there  was  little 
room  for  that  envy,  jealoiLsy,  and  hatred  which 
constitute  a  large  portion  of  human  misery  in 
older  societies.  Never  were  the  stoiy,  the  joke, 
the  song,  and  the  laugh  better  enjoyed  than 
upon  the  hewed  blocks,  or  puncheon  stools, 
around  the  roaring  log  fire  of  the  eaily  Western 
settler.  The  lyre  of  Apollo  was  not  hailed 
with  more  delight  in  primitive  Greece  than  the 
advent  of  the  first  fiddler  among  the  d\velleri 
of  the  wilderness  ;  and  the  polished  daughters 


2S6  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

of  the  East  never  enjoyed  themselves  half  so 
well,  moving  to  the  music  of  a  full  band,  upon 
the  elastic  floor  of  their  ornamented  ball- 
room, as  did  the  daughters  of  the  emigrants, 
keeping  time  to  a  self-taught  fiddler,  on  the 
bare  earth  or  puncheon  floor  of  the  primitive 
log  cabin.  The  smile  of  the  polished  beauty  is 
the  wave  of  the  lake,  ^vhere  the  breeze  plays 
gently  os^er  it,  and  her  movement  is  the  gentle 
stream  which  drains  it  ;  but  the  laugh  of  the 
log-cabin  is  the  gush  of  nature's  fountain,  and 
its  movement,  its  leaping  water.'  *'^ 

"On  the  fi'ontier  the  diet  was  necessarily 
plain  and  homely,  but  exceedingly  abimdant 
and  nutritive.  The  Goshen  of  America  f  fur- 
nished the  richest  milk,  the  finest  butter,  and  the 
most  savory  and  delicious  meats.  In  their  rude 
cabins,  with  tlieir  scanty  and  inartificial  furni- 
ture, no  people  ever  enjoyed  in  wholesome  food 
a  greater  variety,  or  a  superior  quality  of  the 
necessaries  of  life.  For  bread,  the  Indian  corn 
was  exclusively  used.  It  was  not  till  1790  that 
the  settlers  on  the  rich  bottoms  of  Cumberland 
*  Kendall.  f  Butler. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  ^SIT 

and  Nollicliucky  discovered  the  remarkable  ad- 
aptation of  the  soil  and  climate  of  Tennessee  to 
the  production  of  this  grain.  Emigrants  from 
James  River,  the  Catawba,  and  the  Santee  were 
surprised  at  the  amount  and  quality  of  the  com 
crops,  surpassing  greatly  the  best  results  of  agri- 
cultural labor  and  care  in  the  Atlantic  States. 
This  superiority  still  exists,  and  Tennessee,  by  the 
census  of  1850,  was  the  corn  State.  Of  all  the 
farinacea,  corn  is  best  adapted  to  the  condition 
of  a  pioneer  people  ;  and  if  idolatry  is  at  all 
justifiable,  Ceres,  or  certainly  the  Goddess  of 
Indian  corn,  should  have  had  a  temple  and 
worshipers  among  the  pioneers  of  Tennessee. 
Without  that  grain,  the  frontier  settlements 
could  not  have  been  foimed  and  maintained. 
It  is  the  most  certain  crop — requires  the  least 
preparation  of  the  ground — is  most  congenial  to 
a  virgin  soil — needs  not  only  the  least  amount 
of  labor  in  its  culture,  but  comes  to  maturity  in 
the  shortest  time.  The  pith  of  the  matured 
stalk  of  the  corn  is  esculent  and  nutritious  ;  and 
the  stalk  itself,  compressed  between  rollers, 
furnishes  what  is  known  as  corn-stalk  molasses. 


^^  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

"  This  grain  requiresj  also,  the  leaat  care  and 
trouble  in  presenang  it.  It  may  safely  stand 
all  winter  upon  the  stalk  without  injury  from 
the  weather  or  apprehension  of  damage  by  dis- 
ease, or  the  accidents  to  which  other  grains  are 
subject.  Neither  smut  nor  rust,  nor  weavil  nor 
snow-storm,  will  hurt  it.  After  its  maturity,  it 
is  also  prepai'ed  for  use  or  the  granary  with  little 
labor.  The  husking  is  a  short  process,  and  is 
even  advantageously  delayed  till  the  moment 
aiTives  for  using  the  corn.  The  machinery  for 
converting  it  into  food  is  also  exceedingly  sim- 
ple and  cheap.  As  soon  as  the  ear  is  fully 
formed,  it  may  be  roasted  or  boiled,  and  forms 
thus  an  excellent  and  nourishing  diet.  At  a 
later  period  it  may  be  grated,  and  furnishes,  in 
this  form,  the  sweetest  bread.  The  grains  boiled 
in  a  variety  of  modes,  either  whole  or  broken 
in  a  mortar,  or  roasted  in  the  ashes,  or  popped 
in  an  oven,  are  well  relished.  If  the  grain  is  to 
be  converted  into  meal,  a  simple  tub-mill  an- 
swers the  purpose  best,  as  the  meal  least  perfectly 
ground  is  always  preferred.  A  bolting-cloth  is 
not  needed,  as  it  diminishes  the  sweetness  and 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  289 

value  of  tlie  flour.  The  catalogue  of  tlie  advan- 
tages of  this  meal  might  be  extended  further. 
Boiled  in  water,  it  f onus  the  frontier  dish  called 
mmh^  which  was  eaten  with  milk,  with  honey, 
molasses,  butter  or  gravy.  Mixed  with  cold 
water,  it  is  at  once  ready  for  the  cook ;  covered 
wdth  hot  ashes,  the  preparation  is  called  the  ash 
cake  ;  placed  upon  apiece  of  clapboard,  and  set 
near  the  coals,  it  fonns  the  journey-cake  ;  or 
managed  in  the  same  way,  upon  a  helveless  hoe, 
it  forms  the  hoe-cake  ;  put  in  an  o^^en,  and 
covered  over  with  a  heated  lid,  it  is  called,  if  in 
a  large  mass,  a  pone  or  loaf  ;  if  in  smaller  quan- 
titles,  dodgei-s.  It  has  the  further  advantage, 
over  all  other  flour,  that  it  requires  in  its  prep- 
ai-ation  few  culinary  utensils,  and  neither  sugar, 
yeast,  eggs,  spices,  soda,  potash,  or  other  et  eet- 
eras^  to  qualify  or  perfect  the  bread.  To  all 
this  it  may  be  added,  that  it  is  not  only  cheap 
and  well  tasted,  but  it  is  unquestionably  ih^  most 
wholesome  and  nutriti\'e  food.  The  largest 
and  healthiest  people  in  tlie  world  have  lived 
upon  it  exclusively.  It  formed  the  principal 
bread  of  that  robust  race  of  men — giants  iu 
19 


290  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

miniature — wliicli,  lialf    a    century  since,  was 
seen  on  the  frontier. 

^  The  dignity  of  history  is  not  lowered  by 
this  enumeration  of  the  pre-eminent  qualities  of 
Indian  corn.  The  rifle  and  the  ax  have  had 
their  influence  m  subduing  the  wilderness  to  the 
purposes  of  civilization,  and  they  deserve  their 
eulogists  and  trumpeters.  Let  paeans  be  sung 
all  over  the  mighty  AVest  to  Indian  com — \\'ith- 
out  it,  the  West  would  have  still  been  a  mlder- 
ness.  Was  the  frontier  suddenly  invaded  ? 
AVithout  commissary  or  quartermaster,  or  other 
sources  of  supply,  each  soldier  parched  a  peck 
of  corn ;  a  portion  of  it  was  put  into  his  pockets, 
the  remainder  In  his  wallet,  and,  thromng  it 
upon  his  saddle,  with  his  rifle  on  his  shoulder, 
he  was  ready,  in  half  an  hour,  for  the  campaign. 
Did  a  flood  of  emigration  inundate  the  frontier 
with  an  amount  of  consumers  disproportioned 
to  the  supply  of  grain  ?  The  facility  of  raising 
the  Indian  corn,  and  its  early  maturity,  gave 
promise  and  guaranty  that  the  scarcity  would 
be  temporary  and  tolerable.  Did  the  safety  of 
the  frontier  demand  the  ser\aces  of  every  adult 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  291 

militiaman  ?  Tlie  boys  and  women  coulcl,  them- 
selves, raise  corn  and  furnisli  ample  supplies 
of  bread.  The  crop  could  be  gathered  next 
year.  Did  an  autumnal  intermittent  confine 
the  whole  family  or  the  entire  population  to 
the  sick-bed  ?  This  certain  concomitant  of  the 
clearing,  and  cultivating  the  new  soil,  mercifully 
^^dthholds  its  paroxysms  till  the  crop  of  corn  is 
made.  It  requires  no  further  labor  or  care 
afterward.  Paeans,  say  we,  and  a  temple  and 
worshipers,  to  the  Creator  of  Indian  corn  !  The 
frontier  man  could  gratefully  say  :  '  He  maketh 
me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures.  He  leadeth 
me  beside  the  still  waters.  Thou  preparest  a 
tahle  before  me  in  presence  of  mine  enemies^ 

"  The  sports  of  the  frontier  men  were  mainly 
athletic,  or  warlike — ^the  chase,  the  bear  hunt, 
the  deer  drive,  shooting  at  the  target,  throwing 
the  tomahaw^k,  jumping,  boxing  and  wrestling, 
foot  and  horse-racing.  Playing  marbles  and 
pitching  dollars,  cards  and  backgammon  were 
little  known,  and  were  considered  base  or  effem- 
inate. The  bugle,  the  violin,  the  fife  and  drum, 
furnished  all  the  musical  entertainments.     These 


992  LI^  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

were  much  used  and  passionately  adinire<l 
Wedding?^,  niilitai*}^  trainings,  house-raisings, 
chopping  frolics,  were  often  followed  %vith  the 
fiddle,  and  dancing,  and  rural  sportsk" 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Indian  hostilities  resumed— Expedition  of  Davis,  Caffree  and 
MoClure — Murder  of  Elliot — Marshall's  river  adventure — 
Attack  on  Captain  Ward's  boat — Affair  near  Scaggs'  Creek — 
Growth  of  Kentucky — Population — Trade— General  Logan 
calls  a  meeting  at  Danville— Danger  of  the  country  from 
Indian  hostilities,  and  necessity  of  defense  considered- 
Convention  called — Separation  from  Virginia  proposed — 
Other  conventions — Virginia  consents — Kentucky  admitted 
as  an  independent  State  of  the  Union — Indian  hostilities — 
Expedition  and  death  of  Colonel  Christian — Attack  on  Hig- 
gins'  Fort — Expedition  of  General  Clark — Its  utter  failure 
Expedition  of  General  Logan— Surprises  and  destroys  a 
Shawanese  town — Success  of  Captain  Hardin — Defeat  of 
Hargrove— Affairs  in  Bourbon  County— Exploits  of  Simon 
Kenton— Affairs  at  the  Elkhom  settlements— Treaty— 
Harman's  expedition — Final  pacification  of  tlie  Indians 
after  Wayne's  victory. 


Kentucky  was  not  yet  entirely  freed  from 
Indian  hostilities.  There  was  no  formidable  in- 
vasion, snch  as  to  call  for  the  exertions  of  Boone, 
Kenton  and  the  other  wamors  of  the  border, 
but  there  were  several  occurrences  which  occa- 
sioned considerable  alarm. 
^93 


294:  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

Iq  the  sj)rmg  of  1784  a  mimbcr  of  families 
started  down  the  Ohio  from  Louisville  in  two 
flat  boats.  They  were  pursued  by  Indians  in 
canoes,  but  awed  by  the  determined  aspect  of 
the  whites  they  drew  off,  without  so  much  as 
a  gun  being  fired  on  either  side. 

This  same  spring  a  party  of  southern  Indians 
stole  some  horses  from  Lincoln  County.  Three 
young  men,  Davis,  Caffree  and  McClure,  pur- 
sued them,  but  failing  to  overtake  them,  con- 
cluded to  make  reprisals  on  the  nearest  Indian 
settlement.  Not  far  from  the  Tennessee  River, 
they  fell  in  with  an  equal  number  of  Indians. 
The  two  parties  saluted  each  other  in  a  very 
friendly  manner,  and  agreed  to  joiuney  in  com- 
pany. The  whites,  however,  were  by  no  means 
convinced  of  the  sincerity  of  their  comj^anions, 
and,  seeing  them  talking  together  very  earnestly, 
became  assured  of  their  hostile  intentions.  It 
being  determined  to  anticipate  the  Indians' 
attack,  Caffree  undertook  to  capture  one  of 
them,  while  his  companions  shot  the  other  two. 
Accordingly  he  sprung  upon  the  nearest  Indian, 
and  bore  him  to  the  ground  ;  Davis'  gun  missed  fire 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  S95 

but  McClure  shot  liis  man  dead.  The  remain, 
ing  Indian  sprung  to  a  tree  from  which  shelter 
he  shot  Catt'ree,  who  was  still  struggling  with 
the  Indian  he  had  grappled.  He  in  his  turn 
was  immediately  shot  by  McClure.  The  Indian 
whom  Caffree  had  attacked,  extricated  himself 
from  the  grasp  of  his  dying  antagonist,  and 
seizing  his  rifle  presented  it  at  Davis,  who  was 
coming  to  the  assistance  of  his  friend.  Davis 
took  to  flight,  his  rifle  not  being  in  good  order, 
and  was  pursued  by  the  Indian  into  the  wood. 
McClure,  loading  his  gun,  followed  them,  but 
lost  sight  of  both.  Da\ds  was  never  heard  of 
afterward. 

McClure  now  concluded  to  retreat,  but  he  had 
not  proceeded  far,  before  he  met  an  Indian  on 
horseback  attended  by  a  boy  on  foot.  The 
wamor  dismounted,  and  seating  himself  on  a  log, 
offered  his  pipe  to  McClure.  Soon  other  Indians 
were  seen  advancing  in  the  distance,  when  Mc 
Clure's  sociable  friend  informed  him  that  when 
his  companions  came  up  they  would  take  him 
(McClui^e)  and  put  him  on  a  horse,  tying  his 
feet  under  its  belly.     In  order  to  convey  to  his 


296  Llf'E  OF  DxVXIEL  BOONE. 

white  brotlier  an  adequate  idea  of  the  honor  in- 
tended him,  the  Indian  got  astride  the  log  and 
locked  his  feet  to^^ether.  MeClure  took  this 
opportunity  of  shooting  his  amiable  but  rather 
eccentric  companion,  and  then  ran  off  into  the 
woods  and  escaped. 

This  affair,  the  reader  will  bear  in  mind,  was 
with  southern  Indians,  not  ^vith  those  of  the 
northwestern  tribes,  from  whom  the  Kentuek- 
ians  had  suffered  most.  The  only  demonstra- 
tion of  hostility  made  by  these,  this  year,  appeai-s 
to  have  been  the  pursuit  of  the  boats  mentioned 
before.  In  March,  1785,  a  man  of  the  name  of 
Elliot,  who  had  emigrated  to  the  country  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  Kiver,  was  killed 
by  Indians  and  his  house  destroyed  and  family 
dispelled. 

As  Colonel  Thomas  Marshall  from  Virginia 
was  descending  the  Ohio,  in  a  flat  boat,  he  was 
hailed  from  the  northern  shore  by  a  man,  ^vho 
announced  himself  as  James  Girtv,  and  said  that 
he  had  been  placed  by  his  brother  Simon,  to 
warn  all  boats  of  the  danger  of  being  attacked 
by    the    Indians.     He    told    tliem    that    (^^ftorti 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  297 

would  be  made  to  decoy  tliem  ashore  by  mean» 
of  renegade  Avliite  men,  wlio  Avould  represent 
themselves  as  in  great  distress.  He  exhorted 
them  to  steel  their  hearts  against  all  such  appeals, 
and  to  keep  the  middle  of  the  river.  He  said 
that  his  brother  regretted  the  injuries  he  had 
inflicted  upon  the  whites,  and  would  gladly  re- 
pair them  as  much  as  possible,  to  be  re-admitted 
to  their  society,  having  lost  all  his  influence 
among  the  Indians.  This  repentance  on  the 
part  of  Girty  seems  to  have  been  of  short  dura- 
tion, as  he  remained  among  the  Indians  till  his 
death,  which  according  to  some  took  place  at 
the  battle  of  the  Thames,  though  others  deny  it. 

However  sincere  or  lasting  Girty's  repentance 
had  been,  he  could  never  have  lived  in  safety 
among  the  whites  ;  he  had  been  too  active,  and 
if  common  accounts  are  to  be  credited,  too  sav- 
age in  his  hostility  to  them,  to  admit  of  forgive- 
ness ;  and  it  is  probable  that  a  knowledge  of 
this  prevented  him  from  abandoning  the  In- 
dians. 

"  About  the  same  time,"  sa}'S  McClung,  "  Cap- 
tain James  Ward,  at  present  a  highly-respect- 


298  I-IFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

able  citizen  of  Mason  County,  Kentucky,  was 
descending  tlie  Ohio,  under  circumstances  whicli 
rendered  a  rencontre  with  the  Indians  peculiarly 
to  be  dreaded.  He,  together  with  half  a  dozen 
others,  one  of  them  his  nephew,  embarked  in 
a  crazy  boat,  about  forty -five  feet  long  and  eight 
feet  wide,  with  no  other  bulwark  than  a  single 
pine  plank  above  each  gunnel.  The  boat  was 
much  encumbered  with  baggage,  and  seven 
horses  were  on  board.  Having  seen  no  enemy 
for  several  days,  they  had  become  secure  and 
careless,  and  permitted  the  boat  to  drift  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  Ohio  shore.  Suddenly,  several 
hundred  Indians  showed  themselves  on  the  bank, 
and  running  down  boldly  to  the  Avater's  edge, 
opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  boat.  The  aston- 
ishment of  the  crew  may  be  conceived. 

"  Captain  Ward  and  his  nephew  were  at  the 
oars  when  the  enemy  appeared,  and  the  Captain 
knowing  that  their  safety  depended  upon  their 
agility  to  regain  the  middle  of  the  river,  kept 
his  seat  firmly,  and  exerted  h's  utmost  powers 
at  the  oar,  but  his  nephew  stu.  ^ed  up  at  sight 
of  the  enemy,  seized  his  rifle,  and  was   in  the 


LtFE  OP  DANIEL  BOONE.  290 

acfc  of  leveling  it,  when  he  received  a  ball  in 
the  breast,  and  fell  dead  in  the  bottom  of 
the  boat.  Unfortunately,  his  oar  fell  into  the 
river,  and  the  Captain,  having  no  one  to  pnll 
against  him,  rather  urged  the  boat  nearer  to  the 
hostile  shore  than  otherwise.  He  quickly  seized 
a  plank,  however,  and  giving  his  oar  to  another 
of  the  crew,  he  took  the  station  which  his 
nephew  had  held,  and  unhurt  by  the  shower 
of  bullets  which  ilew  around  him,  continued  to 
exert  himself  until  the  boat  had  reached  a  more 
I'espectable  distance.  He  then,  for  the  first 
time,  looked  around  him  in  order  to  observe 
the  condition  of  the  crew. 

''His  nephew  lay  in  his  blood,  perfectly  life- 
less ;  the  horses  had  been  all  killed  or  mortally 
wounded.  Some  had  fallen  overboard  ;  othei^ 
were  struggling  violently  and  causing  their 
frail  bark  to  dip  water  so  abundantly  as  to 
excite  the  most  serious  apprehensions.  But 
the  crew  presented  the  most  singular  spectacle. 
A  captain,  who  had  served  with  reputation  in 
the  continental  anny,  seemed  now  totally  bereft 
of  his  faculties.     He  lay  upon  his  back  in  the 


300  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

bottom  of  the  boat,  with  hands  uplifted,  and  a 
countenance  in  which  terror  was  personified, 
exclaiming  in  a  tone  of  despair,  "  Oh  Lord ! 
Oh  Lord  !  "  A  Dutchman,  whose  weight  might 
amount  to  about  three  hundred  pounds,  was 
anxiously  engaged  in  endeavoring  to  find  shelter 
for  his  bulky  person,  which,  from  the  lowness 
of  the  gunnels,  was  a  very  difficult  imdertaking. 
In  spite  of  his  utmost  efforts,  a  portion  of  his 
posterior  luxuriance  appeared  above  the  gunnel, 
and  afforded  a  mark  to  the  enemy,  which 
brought  a  constant  shower  of  balls  around  it. 

"  In  vain  he  shifted  his  position.  The  hump 
still  appeared,  and  the  balls  still  flew  around  it, 
until  the  Dutchman,  losing  all  patience,  raised 
his  head  above  the  gunnel,  and  in  a  tone  of 
querulous  remonstrance,  called  out,  "  Oh  now  ! 
quit  tat  tamned  nonsense,  tere,  will  you  !  "  Not 
a  shot  was  fired  from  the  boat.  At  one  time, 
after  they  had  partly  regained  the  current, 
Captain  Ward  attempted  to  bring  his  rifle  to 
bear  upon  them,  but  so  ^aolent  was  the  agitation 
of  the  boat,  from  the  funous  struggles  of  the 
horses,  that  he  could  not  steady  his  piece  within 


LlFl-:  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  30l 

twenty  yards  of  the  enemy,  and  quickly  laying 
it  aside,  returned  to  the  oar.  The  Indians 
follo\\'ed  them  down  the  river  for  more  than  an 
hour,  but  having  no  canoes  they  did  not  attempt 
to  board ;  and  as  the  boat  was  at  length  trans- 
ferred to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  they  at 
length  abandoned  the  pursuit  and  disappeared. 
None  of  the  crew,  save  the  young  man  already 
mentioned,  were  hurt,  although  the  Dutchman's 
seat  of  honor  served  as  a  target  for  the  space 
of  an  hour;  and  the  continental  captain  was 
deeply  mortified  at  the  sudden  and,  as  he  said, 
*  unaccountable '  panic  which  had  seized  him. 
Captain  Ward  himself  was  protected  by  a  post, 
which  had  been  fastened  to  the  gunnel,  and 
behind  which  he  sat  while  rowing."  '^ 

"  In  October,  a  paii;y  of  emigrants  were  at- 
tacked near  Scaggs'  Creek,  and  six  killed. 
Mrs.  McClure,  with  four  children,  ran  into  the 
woods,  where  she  might  have  remained  con- 
cealed, if  it  had  not  been  for  the  cries  of  her 
infant,  whom  she  could  not  make  up  her  mind 
to  abandon.     The  Indians,  guided  to  her  hiding- 

*McClung, 


3(i2  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

place  by  these  cries,  cruelly  tomahawked  the 
three  oldest  children,  but  made  her  prisoner 
with  her  remaining  child.  Captain  AVhitley, 
with  twenty-one  men,  intercepted  the  party  on 
its  return,  and  dispersed  them,  killing  two  and 
wounding  the  same  number.  The  prisoners 
were  rescued.  A  few  days  after,  another  party 
of  emigrants  were  attacked,  and  nine  of  them 
killed.  Captain  Whitley  again  pursued  the 
Indians.  On  coming  up  with  them,  they  took 
to  flight.  Three  were  killed  in  the  course  of 
the  pursuit ;  two  by  the  gallant  Captain  himself. 
Some  other  depredations  were  committed  this 
year,  but  none  of  as  much  importance  as  those 
we  have  mentioned." 

These  acts  of  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  In- 
dians led  to  the  adoption  of  measures  for  the 
defense  of  the  Colony,  to  which  we  shall  pres- 
ently call  the  reader's  attention. 

"  Although,"  says  Perkins,*  "  Kentucky  grew 
rapidly  during  the  year  1784,  the  emigrants 
numbering  twelve,  and  the  whole  jr^opulation 
thirty  thousand;  although  a  friendly  meeting 

*  "  Western  Annals." 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  303 

was  held  by  Thomas  J.  Dalton,  with  the  Pian- 
keshaws,  at  Viucennes,  in  April ;  and  though 
trade  was  extending  itself  into  the  clearings  and 
among  the  canebrakes — Daniel  Brodliead  hav- 
ing opened  his  store  at  Louisville  the  previous 
year  and  James  Wilkinson  having  come  to  Lex- 
ington in  February,  as  the  leader  of  a  large 
commercial  company,  formed  in  Philadelphia, 
still  the  cool  and  sagacious  mind  of  Logan  led 
him  to  prepare  his  fello^v-citizens  for  trial  and 
hardships.  He  called  in  the  autumn  of  1784  a 
meeting  of  the  people  at  Danville,  to  take  meas- 
ures for  defending  the  country,  and  at  this  meet- 
ing the  whole  subject  of  the  position  and  dan- 
ger of  Kentucky  was  examined  and  discussed, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  a  convention  should 
meet  in  December  to  adopt  some  measures  for 
the  security  of  the  settlements  in  the  wilderness. 
LTpon  the  27th  of  that  month  it  met,  nor  was  it 
long  before  the  idea  became  prominent  that  Ken- 
tucky must  ask  to  be  severed  from  Virginia,  and 
left  to  her  own  guidance  and  control.  But  as 
no  such  conception  was  general,  when  the  dele- 
gates  to  this  first  convention  were  chosen,  they 


304  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

deemed  it  best  to  appoint  a  second,  to  meet 
during  the  next  May,  at  whieli  was  specially  to 
be  considered  the  topic  most  interesting  to  those 
who  were  called  on  to  think  and  vote — a  com- 
plete separation  from  the  parent  State — politi- 
cal independence. 

''Several  other  conventions  took  place,  in 
Avhich  the  subject  of  a  separation  from  Virginia 
was  considered.  In  1786  the  Legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia  enacted  the  necessary  preliminary  pro- 
visions for  the  separation  and  erection  of  Ken- 
tucky into  an  independent  State,  with  the  condi- 
tion that  Congress  should  receive  it  in  to  the  Union, 
which  was  finall}^  effected  in  the  year  1792. 

"  Previously  to  this  event,  Indian  hostilities 
were  again  renewed. 

"A  number  of  Indians  in  April,  1786,  stole 
some  horses  from  the  Bear  (xrass  settlement, 
■with  which  they  crossed  the  Ohio.  Colonel 
Christian  pursued  them  into  the  Indian  country, 
and,  coming  up  with  them,  destroyed  the  "whole 
party.  How  many  there  were  is  not  st^ated. 
The  whites  lost  two  men,  one  of  whom  was  the 
Colonel  himself,  whose  death  was  a  severe  loss 


LIFE  or  DANIEL  P.OONE.  DO.j 

to  Kentucky.  Tlie  following  affair,  which  took 
place  the  same  year,  is  given  in  the  language  of 
one  who  participated  in  it : 

" '  After  the  battle  of  the  Blue  Licks,  and  in 
1786,  our  family  removed  to  Higgins'  block- 
house on  Licking  Kiver,  one  and  a  half  miles 
above  Cpithiana.  Between  those  periods  my 
father  had  been  shot  by  the  Indians,  and  my 
mother  manned  Samuel  Van  Hook,  who  had 
been  one  of  the  party  engaged  in  the  defense  at 
Ruddell's  Station  in  1780,  and  on  its  surrender 
A\  as  carried  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  to 
Detroit. 

"  ^  Higglns'   Port,    or  block-house,  had  been 

built  at  the  bank  of  the  Licking,  on  precipitous 

rocks,  at  least  thirty  feet  high,  which  served 

to  protect  us  on  every  side  but  one.     On  the 

morning  of  the  1 2th  of  June,  at  daylight,  the 

fort,  W' hich  consisted  of  six  or  seven  houses,  w^as 

attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians,  fifteen  or  twenty 

in  numbei*.     There  Avas  a  cabin  outside,  below 

the   fort,   where   William    McCombs    resided, 

although  absent  at  that  time.     His  son  Andrew, 

and  a  man  hired  in  the  family,  named  Joseph 
m 


,•^0^  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

McFall,  on  making  their  appearance  at  the  doot 
to  wa^h  themselves,  were  both  shot  dovra — ^IVIc 
Combs  through  the  knee,  and  McFall  in  the  pit 
of  the  stomach.  McFall  ran  to  the  block-house, 
and  McCombs  fell,  unable  to  support  himseli 
longer,  just  after  opening  the  door  of  his  cabin, 
and  was  dragged  in  by  his  sisters,  who  barri- 
caded  the  door  instantly.  On  the  level  and 
only  accessible  side  there  was  a  corn-field,  and 
the  season  being  favorable,  and  the  soil  rich  as 
well  as  new,  the  com  w^as  more  than  breast 
high.  Here  the  main  body  of  the  Indians  lay 
concealed,  while  three  or  four  who  made  the 
attack  attempted  thereby  to  decoy  the  whites 
outside  of  the  defenses.  Failing  in  this,  they 
set  fire  to  an  old  fence  and  corn-crib,  and  two 
stables,  both  long  enough  built  to  be  thoroughly 
combustible.  These  had  previously  protected 
their  approach  in  that  direction.  Captain  Asa 
Reese  was  in  command  of  our  little  fort. 
"  Boys,"  said  he,  "  some  of  you  must  run  over  to 
Hinkston's  or  Harrison's."  These  were  one  and 
a  half  and  two  miles  off,  but  in  different  di- 
rections.    Every  man  declined,     I  objected,  al- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOO^iJ.  307 

legiDg  as  my  reason  tliat  lie  would  give  up  the 
fort  before  I  could  bring  relief  ;  but  on  his  as- 
surance that  lie  would  hold  out,  I  agreed  to  go. 
I  jumped  oif  the  bank  through  the  thicket  of 
trees,  which  broke  my  fall,  while  they  scratched 
my  face  and  limbs.  I  got  to  the  ground  with  a 
limb  clenched  in  my  hands,  which  I  had  grasped 
unawares  in  getting  through.  I  recovered  from 
the  jar  in  less  than  a  minute,  crossed  the  Lick- 
ing, and  ran  up  a  co^v-path  on  the  opposite  side, 
Avhich  the  cows  from  one  of  those  forts  had  beat 
down  in  their  visits  for  water.  As  soon  as  I 
had  gained  the  bank  I  shouted  to  assure  my 
friends  of  my  safety,  and  to  discourage  the 
enemy.  In  less  than  an  hour  I  was  back,  ^wdth 
a  relief  of  ten  horsemen,  well  armed,  and  driv- 
ing  in  full  chase  after  the  Indians.  But  they 
had  decamped  immediately  upon  hearing  my 
signal,  well  knowing  what  it  meant,  and  it  was 
deemed  imprudent  to  pursue  them  with  so  weak 
a  party — the  whole  force  in  Higgins'  block-house 
hardly  sufficing  to  guard  the  women  and  chil- 
dren there.  McFall,  from  whom  the  bullet  coi  ild 
not  be  extracted,  lingered  two  days  and  nights 


308  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

in  great  pain,  wlien  lie  died,  ag  did  McCombs,  on 
tlie  nintli  day,  mortification  then  taking  place.' 

"While  these  depredations  were  going  on, 
most  of  tlie  Northwestern  tribes  were  ostensibly 
at  peace  with  the  country,  treaties  having  re- 
cently  been  made.  But  the  Kentuckians,  exas« 
perated  by  the  repeated  outrages,  determined 
to  have  resort  to  their  favorite  expedient  of 
invading  the  Indian  country.  How  far  they 
were  justified  in  holding  the  tribes  responsible 
for  the  actions  of  these  roving  plunderers,  the 
reader  must  judge  for  himself.  We  may  re- 
mark, however,  that  it  does  not  seem  distinctly 
proved  that  the  Indians  engaged  in  these  attacks 
belonged  to  any  of  the  tribes  against  whom  the 
attack  was  to  be  made.  But  the  backwoodsmen 
were  never  very  scrupulous  in  such  matters. 
They  generally  regarded  the  Indian  race  as  a 
unit:  an  offense  committed  by  one  warrior 
might  be  lawfully  punished  on  another.  AVe 
often,  in  reading  the  history  of  the  West,  read 
of  persons  who  having  lost  relations  by  Indians 
of  one  tiibe,  made  a  practise  of  killing  all  whom 
they  met,  whether  in  peace  or  war.     It  is  evi- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  309 

dent,  as  Marshall  says,  that  no  aiitliority  but 
that  of  Congress  could  render  an  expedition  of 
this  kind  lawful.  The  Governor  of  Virginia 
had  given  instructions  to  the  commanders  of  the 
countries  to  take  the  necessary  means  for  de- 
fense ;  and  the  Kentuckians,  gi\ang  a  free  inter- 
pretation to  these  instructions,  decided  that  the 
expedition  was  necessary  and  resolved  to  under- 
take it. 

*'  General  Clark  was  selected  to  conmiand  it, 
and  to  the  standard  of  this  favorite  officer  volun- 
teei-s  eagerly  thronged.  A  thousand  men  were 
collected  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  from  A\'lience 
the  troops  marched  by  land  to  St.  Vincennes, 
while  the  provisions  and  other  supplies  were 
conveyed  by  water.  The  troops  soon  became 
discouraged.  When  the  provisions  reached  Vin- 
cennes, after  a  delay  of  several  days  on  account 
of  the  low  Avater,  it  Avas  found  that  a  large  pro- 
portion of  them  were  spoiled.  In  consequence 
of  this,  the  men  were  placed  upon  short  allow- 
ance, ^Yith  which,  of  coui^e,  they  were  not  well 
pleased.  In  the  delay  in  waiting  for  the  boats, 
much  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the  men  had  evapo- 


310  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

rated ;  and  it  is  said  by  some  that  General  Clark 
despatched  a  messenger  to  the  towns,  in  advance 
of  the  troops,  to  offer  them  the  choice  of  peace  or 
war,  which  greatly  lessened  the  chances  of  the 
success  of  the  expedition.  Though  this  measure 
would  be  only  complpng  wdth  the  requirements 
of  good  faith,  it  is  very  doubtful  if  it  was  adopted,^ 
so  utterly  at  variance  would  it  be  with  the 
usual  manner  of  conducting  these  expeditions. 

"  At  any  rate,  when  the  army  arrived  within 
two  days'  march  of  the  Indian  towns,  no  less 
than  three  hundred  of  the  men  refused  to 
proceed,  nor  could  all  the  appeals  of  Clark 
induce  them  to  alter  their  determination.  They 
marched  off  in  a  body;  and  so  discouraged 
were  the  others  by  this  desertion,  and  the  im- 
favorable  circumstances  in  which  they  were 
placed,  that  a  council  held  the  evening  after 
their  departiu'e  concluded  to  relinquish  the 
undertaking." 

The  whole  of  the  troops  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky in  a  very  disorderly  manner.  Thus  did 
this  expedition^  begun  under  the  most  favorable 
auspices — for  the  commander's  reputation  waa 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  311 

greater  than  any  other  in  the  West,  and  the 
men  were  the  elite  of  Kentucky— altogether 
fail  of  its  object,  the  men  not  having  even  seen 
the  enemy.  Marshall,  in  accounting  for  this 
xmexpected  termination,  says  that  Clark  was  no 
longer  the  man  he  had  been ;  that  he  had  in- 
jured his  intellect  by  the  use  of  spirituous 
liquors.  Colonel  Logan  had  at  first  accompa- 
nied Clark,  but  he  soon  returned  to  Kentucky 
to  organize  another  expedition ;  that  might, 
while  the  attention  of  the  Indians  was  alto- 
gether engrossed  by  the  advance  of  Clark,  fall 
upon  some  unguarded  point.  He  raised  the 
lequisite  number  of  troops  without  difficulty, 
and  by  a  rapid  march  completely  surprised  one 
of  the  Shawanee  to^vns,  which  he  destroyed, 
killing  several  of  the  warriors,  and  bringing 
away  a  number  of  prisoners.  In  regard  to  the 
results  of  the  measures  adopted  by  the  Ken- 
tuckians,  we  quote  from  Marshall : 

"  In  October  of  this  year,  a  large  number  of 
families  traveling  by  land  to  Kentucky,  known 
by  the  name  of  McNitt's  company,  were  sur- 
prised in  camp,  at  night,  by  a  party  of   Indians 


312  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

betweec  Big  and  Little  Laurel  River,  and  totally 
defeated,  witli  the  loss  of  twenty-one  persons 
killed ;  tlie  rest  dispersed,  or  taken  prisonei-s. 

"  About  the  same  time,  Captain  Hardin,  from 
the  south-western  part  of  the  district,  with  a 
party  of  men,  made  an  excursion  into  the  Indian 
country,  surrounding  the  Saline ;  he  fell  in 
with  a  camp  of  Indians  whom  he  attacked  and 
defeated,  killing  four  of  them,  without  loss  on 
his  part. 

"Some  time  in  December,  Hargrove  and 
others  were  defeated  at  the  mouth  of  Buck 
Creek,  on  the  Cumberland  River.  The  Indians 
attacked  in  the  night,  killed  one  man,  and 
wounded  Hargrove  ;  who  directly  became  en- 
gaged in  a  rencontre  with  an  Indian,  armed  with 
his  tomahawk ;  of  this  he  was  disarmed,  but 
escaped,  lea\'ing  the  weapon  with  Hargrove, 
who  bore  it  off,  glad  to  extricate  himself.  In 
this  year  also,  Benjamin  Price  was  killed  near 
the  three  forks  of  Kentucky. 

"  Thus  ended,  in  a  full  renewal  of  the  war, 
the  year  whose  beginning  had  happily  witnessed 
the  completion  of  the  treaties  of  peace. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  313 

"  By  tliis  time,  one  tiling  ninst  Lave  been 
obnous  to  those  who  had  attended  to  the 
course  of  events — and  that  Ava.s,  that  if  the 
Indians  came  into  the  country,  whether  for 
peace  or  war,  hostilities  were  inevitable. 

"  If  the  white  people  went  into  their  country, 
the  same  consequences  followed.  The  parties 
were  yet  highly  exasperated  against  each  other  ; 
they  had  not  cooled  since  the  peace,  if  peace  it 
could  be  called  ;  and  meet  ^\  here  they  would, 
bloodshed  was  the  result. 

''  Whether  the  Indians  to  the  north  and 
w^est  had  ascertained,  or  not,  that  the  two  ex- 
peditions of  this  year  were  with  or  without  the 
consent  of  Congress,  they  could  but  think  the 
treaties  vain  things ;  and  either  made  by  those 
who  had  no  right  to  make  them,  or  no  power 
to  enforce  them.  With  Kentuckians,  it  was 
known  that  the  latter  was  the  fact.  To  the 
Indians,  the  consequence  was  the  same.  They 
knew  to  a  certainty,  that  the  British  had  not 
surrendered  the  posts  on  the  lakes — that  it  was 
from  them  they  received  their  supplies ;  that 
they  had  been  deceived,  as  to  the  United  Stat«« 


314  LIFE  OP  DANIEL  BOONE. 

getting  tlie  posts,  and  they  were  easily  pe^ 
siiaded  to  believe,  that  these  posts  would  not 
be  transferred ;  and  that  in  truth,  the  British, 
not  the  United  States,  had  been  the  conquerors 
in  the  late  war. 

"  Such  were  the  reflections  which  the  state 
of  facts  would  have  justified,  and  at  the  same 
time  have  disposed  them  for  war.  The  inva- 
sion of  their  country  by  two  powerful  armies 
from  Kentucky,  could  leave  no  doubt  of  a  dis- 
position equally  hostile  on  her  part.  Congress, 
utterly  destitute  of  the  means  for  enforcing  the 
treaties,  either  on  the  one  side  or  the  other, 
stood  aloof,  ruminating  on  the  inexhaustible 
abundance  of  her  own  want  of  resources — and 
the  abuse  of  herself  for  not  possessing  them." 

After  this  year,  we  hear  of  but  few  independ- 
ent expeditions  from  Kentucky.  Their  militia 
were  often  called  out  to  operate  with  the  United 
States  troops,  and  in  Wa}aie's  campaign  were  of 
much  service ;  but  this  belongs  to  the  general 
history  of  the  United  States.  All  that  we  have 
to  relate  of  Kentucky  now  is  a  series  of  preda- 
toiy  attacks  by  the  Indians,  varied  oc<jasionally 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  S15 

by  a  spirited  reprisal  by  a  small  party  of  whites. 
It  is  estimated  that  fifteen  hundred  persons  were 
either  killed  or  made  prisoners  in  Kentucky 
after  the  year  1783. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  11th  of  April,  1787," 
says  McClung,  '^  the  house  of  a  widow,  in  Bour- 
bon County,  became  the  scene  of  an  adventure 
which  we  think  deserves  to  be  related.  She 
occupied  what  is  generally  called  a  double  cabin, 
in  a  lonely  part  of  the  country,  one  room  of 
which  was  tenanted  by  the  old  lady  herself,  to- 
gether with  two  grown  sons  and  a  widowed 
daughter,  at  that  time  suckling  an  infant,  while 
the  other  was  occupied  by  two  unmarried 
daughters,  from  sixteen  to  twenty  years  of  age, 
together  Avith  a  little  girl  not  more  than  half 
groAvn.  The  hour  was  eleven  o'clock  at  night. 
One  of  the  unmarried  daughters  was  still  busily 
engaged  at  the  loom,  but  the  other  members  of 
the  family,  with  the  exception  of  one  of  the 
sons,  had  retired  to  rest.  Some  s}Tnptoms  of  an 
alarming  nature  had  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  young  man  for  an  hour  before  anything  of 
a  decided  character  took  place. 


310  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

"  The  cry  of  owls  was  heard  in  the  adjoiuing 
wood,  answering  each  other  in  rather  an  un- 
usual manner.  The  horses,  which  were  enclosed 
as  usual  in  a  pound  near  the  house,  were  more 
than  commonly  excited,  and  by  repeated  snort- 
ing and  galloping  announced  the  presence  of 
some  object  of  terror.  The  young  man  was  often 
upon  the  point  of  awakening  his  brother,  but 
was  as  often  restrained  by  the  fear  of  incuri'ing 
lidicule  and  the  reproach  of  timidity,  at  that 
time  an  unpardonable  blemish  in  the  character 
of  a  Kentuckian.  At  length  hasty  steps  were 
heard  in  the  yard,  and  quickly  afterward  sev- 
eral loud  knocks  at  the  door,  accompanied  by 
the  usual  exclamation,  ^  Who  keeps  house  ? '  in 
very  good  English.  The  young  man,  suppos- 
ing from  the  language  that  some  benighted 
settlers  were  at  the  door,  hastily  arose,  and  was 
advancing  to  withdraw  the  bar  which  secui'ed  it, 
when  his  mother,  who  had  long  lived  upon  the 
frontiers,  and  had  probably  detected  the  Indian 
tone  in  the  demand  for  admission,  instantly 
sprung  out  of  bed,  and  ordered  her  son  not  to 
admit  them,  declaring  that  they  were  Indians. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  31f 

"  She  instantly  awakened  lier  other  son,  and 
the  two  young  men  seized  their  guns,  which 
were  always  charged,  prepared  to  repel  the 
enemy.  The  Indians,  finding  it  impossible  to 
enter  under  their  assumed  characters,  began  to 
thunder  at  the  door  with  great  violence,  but 
a  single  shot  from  a  loop-hole  compelled  them 
to  shift  the  attack  to  some  less  exposed  point, 
and,  unfortunately,  they  discovered  the  door 
of  the  other  cabin,  containing  the  three  daugh- 
ters. The  rifles  of  the  brothers  could  not  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  this  point,  and  by  means 
of  several  rails  taken  from  the  yard  fence,  the 
door  was  forced  from  its  hinges,  and  the  three 
girls  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  savages.  One 
was  instantly  secured,  but  tlie  eldest  defended 
herself  desperately  with  a  knife  which  she  had 
been  using  at  the  loom,  and  stabbed  one  of  the 
Indians  to  the  heart  before  she  was  tomahawked. 

"  In  the  meantime  the  little  girl,  who  had 
been  overlooked  by  the  enemy  in  their  eager- 
ness to  secure  the  others,  ran  out  into  the  yard, 
and  might  have  effected  her  escape,  had  she 
taken  advantage  of  the  darkness  and  fled  ;  but 


318  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

instead  of  that,  the  terrified  little  creature  ran 
around  the  house  wringing  her  hands,  and  cry- 
ins:  out  that  her  sisters  were  killed.  The 
brothel's,  unable  to  hear  her  cries  without  risk- 
ing everything  for  her  rescue,  rushed  to  the 
door  and  were  preparing  to  sally  out  to  her  as- 
sistance, when  their  mother  threw  herself  before 
them  and  calmly  declared  that  the  child  must 
be  abandoned  to  its  fate  ;  that  the  sally  would 
sacrifice  the  lives  of  all  the  rest,  without  the 
slightest  benefit  to  the  little  girl.  Just  then 
the  child  uttered  a  loud  scream,  followed  by 
a  few  faint  moans,  and  all  was  again  silent. 
Presently  the  crackling  of  fiames  was  heard,  ac- 
companied by  a  triumphant  yell  from  the 
Indians,  announcing  that  they  had  set  fire  to 
that  division  of  the  house  which  had  been 
occupied  by  the  daughters,  and  of  which  they 
held  undisputed  possession. 

"  The  fire  was  quickly  communicated  to  the 
rest  of  the  building,  and  it  became  necessary  to 
abandon  it  or  perish  in  the  flames.  In  the  one 
case  there  was  a  possibility  that  some  might 
^cape ;  in  the  other,  their  fate  would  be  equally 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE,  319 

c^rt-ain  and  terrible.  The  rapid  approach  of 
the  flames  cut  short  their  momentary  suspense. 
The  door  was  thrown  open,  and  the  old  lady, 
supported  by  her  eldest  son,  attempted  to  cross 
the  fence  at  one  point,  while  her  daughter,  car- 
lying  her  child  in  her  arms,  and  attended  by 
the  younger  of  the  brothers,  ran  in  a  different 
direction.  The  blazing  roof  shed  a  light  over 
the  yard  but  little  inferior  to  that  of  day,  and 
the  savages  were  distinctly  seen  awaiting  the 
approach  of  their  victims.  The  old  lady  was 
permitted  to  reach  the  stile  unmolested,  but  in 
the  act  of  crossing  received  several  balls  in  her 
breast  and  fell  dead.  Her  son,  providentially, 
remained  unhurt,  and  by  extraordinary  agility 
effected  his  escape. 

"  The  other  party  succeeded  also  in  reaching 
the  fence  unhurt,  but  in  the  act  of  crossing  were 
vigorously  assailed  by  several  Indians,  who, 
throwing  down  their  guns,  rushed  upon  them 
wath  their  tomahawks.  The  young  man  de- 
fended his  sister  gallantly,  firing  upon  the  enemy 
as  they  approached,  and  then  wielding  the  butt 
of  his  rifle  mth  a  fury  that  drew  their  whole 


320  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

attention  upon  himself,  he  gave  his  sifter  as 
opportunity  of  effecting  her  escape.  He  quickly 
fell,  however,  under  the  tomahawks  of  his 
enemies,  and  was  found  at  daylight,  scalped  and 
mangled  in  a  shocking  manner.  Of  the  whole 
family  consisting  of  eight  persons,  when  the 
attack  commenced,  only  thi*ee  escaped.  Four 
were  killed  upon  the  spot,  and  one  (the  second 
daughter)  carried  off  as  a  prisoner. 

"  The  neighborhood  was  quickly  alarmed,  and 
by  daylight  about  thirty  men  were  assembled 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Edwards.  A 
light  snow  had  fallen  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  night,  and  the  Indian  trail  could  be  pursued 
at  a  gallop.  It  led  directly  into  the  moun- 
tainous country  bordering  upon  Licking,  and  af- 
forded evidences  of  great  hurry  and  precipita- 
tion on  the  paiii  of  the  fugitives.  Unf oitunately 
a  hound  had  been  permitted  to  accompany  the 
whites,  and  as  the  trail  became  fresh  and  the 
scent  warm,  she  followed  it  with  eagerness,  bay- 
ing loudly  and  giving  the  alarm  to  the  Indians. 
The  consequences  of  this  imprudence  were  soon 
displayed.     The  enemy  finding  the  pursuit  keen, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  3^1 

and  perceiving  that  the  strength  of  the  prisoner 
began  to  fail,  instantly  sunk  their  tomahawks 
in  her  head  and  left  her,  still  warm  and  bleed- 
ing, upon  the  snow. 

"As  the  whites  came  up,  she  retained  strength 
enough  to  wave  her  hand  in  token  of  recogni- 
tion, and  appeared  desirous  of  giving  them  some 
information  with  regard  to  the  enemy,  but  her 
strength  was  too  far  gone.  Her  brother  sprung 
from  his  hoi*se  and  knelt  by  her  side,  endeavor- 
ing to  stop  the  effusion  of  blood,  but  in  vain. 
She  gave  him  her  hand,  muttered  some  inartic- 
ulate words,  and  expired  within  two  minutes 
after  the  arrival  of  the  party.  The  pursuit  was 
renewed  with  additional  ardor,  and  in  twenty 
minutes  the  enemy  was  within  view.  They  had 
taken  possession  of  a  steep  narrow  ridge,  and 
seemed  desirous  of  magnifying  their  numbers 
in  the  eyes  of  the  ^vhites,  as  they  ran  rapidly 
from  tree  to  tree,  and  maintained  a  steady  yell  in 
their  most  appalling  tones.  The  pursuers,  how- 
ever, were  too  experienced  to  be  deceived  by  so 
common  an  artifice,  and  being  satisfied  that  the 
number  of  the  enemy  must  be  inferior  to  their 


21 


322  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

own,  they  dismounted,  tied  their  horses,  and 
flanking  out  in  such  a  manner  as  to  enclose  the 
enemy,  ascended  the  ridge  as  rapidly  as  was 
consistent  with  a  due  regard  to  the  shelter  of 
their  persons. 

"The  firing  quickly  commenced,  and  now  for 
the  first  time  they  discovered  that  only  two 
Indians  Avere  opposed  to  them.  They  had  vol- 
untarily sacrificed  themselves  for  the  safety  of 
the  main  body,  and  succeeded  in  delaying  pur- 
suit until  their  friends  could  reach  the  moun» 
tains.  One  of  them  was  instantly  shot  dead, 
and  the  other  was  badly  wounded,  as  was  evi- 
dent  from  the  blood  upon  his  blanket,  as  well  as 
that  which  filled  his  tracks  in  the  snow  for  a 
considerable  distance.  The  pursuit  was  recom- 
menced, and  urged  keenly  until  night,  when  the 
trail  entered  a  running  stream  and  was  lost. 
On  the  following  morning  the  snow  had  melted, 
and  every  trace  of  the  enemy  was  obliterated. 
This  affair  must  be  regarded  as  highly  honorable 
to  the  skill,  address,  and  activity  of  the  Indians ; 
and  the  self-devotion  of  the  rear-guard  is  a  lively 
iuBtauce  of  that  magnanimity  of  Axhich  they  arq 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  323 

at  times  capable,  and  wliicli  is  more  remarkable 
in  tiem,  fi'om  the  extreme  caution  and  tender 
regard  for  their  own  lives  which  usually  distin- 
guished their  warriors." 

From  this  time  Simon  Kenton's  name  became 
very  prominent  as  a  leader.  This  year,  at  the 
head  of  forty-six  men,  he  pursued  a  body  of 
Indians,  but  did  not  succeed  in  overtaking  them, 
which  he  afterward  regarded  as  a  fortunate  cir- 
cumstance, as  he  ascertained  that  they  were  at 
least  double  the  number  of  his  own  party.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  Scott,  ha^dng  been  carried 
off  by  the  Indians,  Kenton  followed  them  over 
the  Ohio,  and  released  him. 

As  early  as  January,  1T83,  the  Indians  entered 
Kentucky,  two  of  them  were  captured  near 
Crab  Orchard  by  Captain  Whitley.  The  same 
month,  a  party  stole  a  number  of  horses  from 
the  Elkhorn  settlements,  they  were  pursued  and 
siu*prised  in  their  camp.  Their  leader  extricated 
his  band,  by  a  singular  stratagem.  Springing 
up  before  the  whites  could  fire,  he  went  through 
a  series  of  the  most  extraordinary  antics,  leaping 
and  yelling  as  if  frantic.     This  conduct  absorb* 


^24  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONfi. 

ing  the  atteiition  of  the  whites,  his  followers 
took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  escape. 
As  soon  as  they  had  all  disappeared,  the  wily 
chief  plunged  into  the  woods  and  ^vas  seen  no 
more.  The  attacks  were  continued  in  March. 
Several  parties  and  families  suffered  severely. 
Lieutenant  McClure,  following  the  trail  of  a 
marauding  party  of  Indians,  fell  in  with  an- 
other body,  and,  in  the  skirmish  that  ensued, 
was  mortally  wounded. 

In  1789,  a  conference  was  held  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Muskingum,  with  most  of  the  north- 
western tribes,  the  result  of  which  was  the  con- 
clusion of  another  treaty.  The  Shawanese  were 
not  included  in  this  pacification.  This  tribe  was 
the  most  constant  in  its  enmity  to  the  whites,  of 
all  the  Western  Indians.  There  was  but  little 
use  in  making  peace  with  the  Indians  unless  all 
wei^  included ;  for  as  long  as  one  tribe  v>'as  at 
war,  restless  spirits  among  the  others  were 
found  to  take  part  with  them,  and  the  whites, 
on  the  other  hand,  were  not  particular  to  dis- 
tinguish  between  hostile  and  friendly  Indians. 

Though  the  depredations  continued  this  year, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOOKE.  S2') 

no  affair  of  unusual  interest  occurred;  small 
parties  of  the  Indians  infested  the  settlements, 
murdeiing  and  plundering  the  inhabitants. 
They  were  generally  pursued,  but  mostly  with- 
out success.  Major  McMillan  was  attacked  by 
sLx  or  seven  Indians,  but  escaped  unhurt  after 
killing  two  of  his  assailants. 

A  boat  upon  the  Ohio  was  fired  upon,  ^ve 
men  killed,  and  a  woman  made  prisoner.  In 
their  attacks  upon  boats,  the  Indians  employed 
the  stratagem  of  which  the  whites  had  been 
warned  by  Girty.  White  men  would  appear 
upon  the  shore,  begging  the  crew  to  rescue 
them  from  the  Indians,  who  were  pursuing 
them.  Some  of  these  were  renegades,  and 
others  prisoners  compelled  to  act  this  part,  under 
threats  of  death  in  its  most  dreadful  form  if 
they  refused. 

The  warning  of  Girty  is  supposed  to  have 
saved  many  persons  from  this  artifice ;  but  too 
often  unable  to  resist  the  many  appeals,  emi- 
grants became  victims  to  the  finest  feelings  of 
our  nature. 

Thus  in  March,  1790,  a  boat  descending  the 


326  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

river  was  decoyed  ashore,  and  no  sooner  had  it 
rf'^ched  the  bank  than  it  was  captured  by  fifty 
Indians,  who  killed  a  man  and  a  woman,  and 
made  the  rest  prisoners.  An  expedition  was 
made  against  the  Indians  on  the  Sciota  by  Gen^ 
eral  Harmer,  of  the  United  States  army,  and 
General  Scott,  of  the  Kentucky  militia,  but 
nothing  of  consequence  was  achieved.  In  May 
a  number  of  people  returning  from  Divine  serv- 
ice, on  Bear  Grass  Creek,  were  attacked,  and  one 
man  killed,  and  a  woman  made  prisoner,  who 
was  afterward  tomahawked.  Three  days  after, 
a  boat  containing  six  men  and  several  families 
was  captured  by  sixteen  Indians  mthout  loss. 
The  whites  were  all  carried  off  by  the  Indians, 
vrlio  intended,  it  is  said,  to  make  them  slaves ; 
one  of  the  men  escaped  and  brought  the  news 
to  the  settlements. 

In  the  fall  Harmer  made  a  second  expedition 
w^hich  was  attended  mth  great  disasters.  Sev- 
eral marauding  attacks  of  the  Indians  ensued ; 
nor  was  peace  finally  restored  until  after  the 
treaty  of  Greenville,  which  followed  the  subjuga^ 
tion  of  the  Indians  by  General  Wayne  in  1794, 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Colonel  Boone  meets  with  the  loss  of  all  his  land  in  Kentucky, 
and  emigrates  to  Virginia — Resides  on  the  Kanawha,  near 
Point  Pleasant — Hears  of  the  fertility  of  Missouri,  and  the 
abundance  of  game  there — Emigrates  to  Missouri— Is  ap- 
pointed commandant  of  a  district  under  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment— Mr.  Audubon's  narrative  of  a  nigiit  passed  with 
Boone,  and  the  narratives  made  by  him  during  the  night 
Extraordinary  power  of  his  memory. 

A  PERIOD  of  severe  adversity  for  Colonel 
Boone  now  ensued.  His  aversion  to  legal  tech- 
nicalities and  his  ignorance  of  legal  forms  were 
partly  the  cause  of  defects  in  the  titles  to  the 
lands  which  he  had  long  ago  acquired,  improved, 
and  nobly  defended.  But  the  whole  system  of 
land  titles  in  Kentucky  at  that  early  period 
was  so  utterly  defective,  that  hundreds  of  others 
who  were  better  informed  and  more  careful  than 
the  old  pioneer,  lost  their  lands  by  litigation  and 
the  arts  and  rogueries  of  land  speculators,  who 
made  it  their  business  to  hunt  up  defects  in 

land  titles. 
3^7 


328  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

The  Colonel  lost  all  his  land — even  his  >eaiiti- 
fill  farm  near  Boonesboroiigh,  which  oaght  to 
have  been  held  sacred  by  any  men  possessed  of 
a  particle  of  patriotism  or  honest  feeling,  was 
taken  from  liim.  He  consequently  left  Ken- 
tucky and  settled  on  the  Kanawha  River  in 
Virginia,  not  far  from  Point  Pleasant.  This  re- 
moval appears  to  have  taken  place  in  the  year 
1790.  He  remained  in  this  place  several  years, 
cultivating  a  farm,  raising  stock,  and  at  the 
proper  seasons  indulging  in  his  favorite  sport  of 
hunting. 

Some  hunters  ^vho  had  been  pursuing  their 
sport  on  the  western  shores  of  the  Missouri 
River  gave  Colonel  Boone  a  very  vivid  descrip- 
tion of  that  country,  expatiating  on  the  fertility 
of  the  land,  the  abundance  of  game,  and  the 
great  herds  of  buffalo  ranging  over  the  vast  ex- 
panse of  the  prairies.  They  also  described  the 
simple  manners  of  the  people,  the  absence  of 
lawyers  and  lawsuits,  and  the  iVrcadian  happi- 
ness ^A'hich  was  enjoyed  by  all  in  the  distant 
region,  in  such  glowing  terms  that  Boone  re-, 
solved  to  emigrate   and   settle  there,  leaving  his 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  §29 

fourtli  son  Jesse  in  the  Kanawha  valley,  where  he 
had  man-ied  and  settled,  and  ^vho  did  not  follow 
him  till  several  }'ears  after.*"' 

Mr.  Peck  fixes  the  period  of  this  emigration 
in  1795,  Pei'kins,  in  his  "  Western  Annals,"  places 
it  in  1797.  His  authority  is  an  article  of 
Thomas  J.  Hinde  in  the  "  American  Pioneer," 
who  says  :  "  I  was  neighbor  to  Daniel  Boone,  the 
first  Vv'hite  man  that  fortified  against  the  Indians 
in  Kentucky.  In  October,  1797,  I  sa^v  him  on 
pack-horses  take  up  his  journey  for  Missouri, 
then  Upper  Louisiana." 

Mr.  Peck  says  if  ''At  that  period,  and  for 
several  years  after,  the  country  of  his  retreat  be- 
longed to  the  Cro^vn  of  Spain.  His  fame  had 
reached  this  remote  region  before  him ;  and  he 
received  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  who  re- 
sided at  St.  Louis,  "  assurance  that  ample  por- 
tions of  land  should  be  aiven  to  him  and  his 
family."  His  first  residence  was  in  the  Femme 
Osage  settlement,  in  the  District  of  St.  Charles, 
about  foi*ty-five  miles  west  of  St.  Louis.  Here 
he  remained  with  his  son  Daniel  M.  Boone  until 

*  Peck,  t  Life  of  Boone. 


330  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

1804,  when  he  removed  to  the  residence  of  his 
youngest  son,  Nathan  Boone,  with  whom  he 
continued  till  about  1810,  when  he  went  to  re- 
side wath  his  son-in-law,  Flandei^s  Callaway. 
A  commission  from  Don  Chai'les  D.  Delassus, 
Lieutenant-Governor,  dated  July  11th,  1800, 
appointing  him  commandant  of  the  Femme 
Osage  District,  was  tendered  and  accepted.  He 
retained  this  command,  which  included  both 
civil  and  military  duties,  and  he  continued  to 
discharge  them  with  credit  to  himself,  and  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  until  the  trans- 
fer of  the  government  to  the  United  States. 
The  simple  manners  of  the  frontier  people  of 
Missouri  exactly  suited  the  peculiar  habits  and 
temper  of  Colonel  Boone." 

It  was  during  his  residence  in  Missouri  that 
Colonel  Boone  was  visited  by  the  great  natu- 
ralist, J.  J.  Audubon,  who  passed  a  night  mth 
him.  In  his  Ornithological  Biography,  Mr. 
Audubon  gives  the  following  narrative  of  what 
passed  on  that  occasion  : 

"  Daniel  Boone,  or,  as  he  was  usually  called 
in  the  Western  country,  Colonel  Boone,  happened 


LIFE  OF  DAXiEL  BOONE.  331 

to  spend  a  Dight  with  me  under  the  same  roof, 
more  than  twenty  yeai^  ago  *     We  had  returned 
from  a  shooting  excursion,  in  the  course  of  Avhich 
his  extraordinary  skill  in  the  management  of  the 
rifle  had  been  fully  displayed.     On  retiring  to 
the  room  appropriated  to  that  remarkable  in- 
di\4dual  and  myself  for  the  night,  I  felt  anxious 
to  know  more  of  his  exploits  and  adventures 
than  I  did,  and  accordingly  took  the  liberty  of 
proposing    numerous  questions    to  him.     The 
stature  and  general  appearance  of  this  -wanderer 
of  the  Western  forests  approached  the  gigantic. 
His  chest  w^as  broad  and  prominent  ;  his  mus- 
cular powers   displayed    themselves   in    every 
limb  ;  his   countenance  gave  indication  of  his 
great  courage,  enterprise,  and  perseverance  ;  and 
when  he  spoke,  the   very   motion   of   his  lips 
brought  the  impression  that  whatever  he  uttered 
could  not  be  otherwise  than  strictly  true.     I 
undressed,  whilst  he  merely  took  off  his  himt- 
ing-shirt,  and  arranged  a  few  folds  of  blankets 
on  the  floor,  choosing  rather  to  lie  there,  as  he 
observed,  than  on  the  softest  bed.     When  we 
*  This  would  be  about  the  year  ISiO» 


B32  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

had  both  disposed  of  oui-selves,  each  aftei'  his 
own  fashion,  he  related  to  me  the  following  ac- 
count of  his  powers  of  memoiy,  which  I  lay  be- 
fore you,  kind  reader,  in  his  own  words,  hoping 
that  the  simplicity  of  his  style  may  prove  inter- 
esting to  you. 

"  '  I  was  once,'  said  he,  '  on  a  hunting  ex- 
pedition on  the  banks  of  the  Green  River,  vrhen 
the  lower  parts  of  this  State  (Kentucky)  were 
still  in  the  hands  of  nature,  and  none  but  the 
sons  of  the  soil  were  looked  upon  as  its  la¥.dPul 
proprietors.  We  Virginians  had  for  some  time 
been  waging  a  war  of  intrusion  upon  them,  and 
I,  amongst  the  rest,  rambled  through  the  woods 
in  pursuit  of  their  race,  as  I  now  would  follow 
the  tracks  of  any  ravenous  animal.  The  Indians 
outwitted  me  one  dark  night,  and  I  was  as  unex- 
23ectedly  as  suddenly  made  a  prisoner  by  them. 
The  trick  had  been  managed  with  great  skill  ; 
for  no  sooner  had  I  extinguished  the  iii'e  of  my 
camp,  and  laid  me  down  to  rest,  in  full  security, 
as  I  thought,  than  I  felt  mj^self  seized  by  an  in- 
distinguishable number  of  hands,  and  was  im- 
mediately pinioned,  as  if  about  to  be  led  to  the 


LIFE  OF  DAXIKL  BOOXE.  ^33 

scaffold  lor  exeoiitiou.  To  liave  attempted  to 
be  refractory  would  have  proved  useless  and 
dangerous  to  m\'  lii'e  ;  and  I  suffered  myself  to 
be  removed  from  my  camp  to  theii's,  a  few  miles 
distant,  ^vitllOut  uttering  even  a  word  of  com- 
plaint.  You  are  aware,  I  dai-e  say,  that  to  act 
in  this  manner  was  the  Ijest  policy,  as  you 
understand  that  by  so  doing  I  j)roved  to  the 
Indians  at  once  that  I  was  bom  and  bred  as 
fearless  of  death  as  any  of  themselves. 

" '  When  we  reached  the  camp,  great  rejoic* 
ings  were  exhibited.  Two  squaws  and  a  few 
papooses  appeared  particularly  delighted  at  the 
sight  of  me,  and  I  was  assured,  by  very  imequi- 
vocal  gestures  and  words,  that,  on  the  morrow, 
the  mortal  enemy  of  the  Red-skins  would  cease 
to  live.  I  never  opened  my  lips  but  was  busy 
contri\Hlng  some  scheme  which  might  enable  me 
to  give  the  rascals  the  slip  before  dawn.  The 
women  immediately  fell  a-searching  about  my 
hunting-shirt  for  whatever  they  might  think  val- 
uable and,  fortunately  for  me,  soon  found  my 
flask  filled  with  MonongaMa  (that  is,  reader, 
gtrong  whisky).     A  terrific  grin  was  exhibited 


33i  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONt:. 

on  theii*  murderous  countenances,  while  mv  heart 
throbbed  with  joy  at  the  anticipation  of  their 
intoxication.  The  crew  immediately  began  to 
beat  their  bellies  and  sing,  as  they  passed  the 
bottle  from  mouth  to  mouth.  How  often  did  I 
wish  the  flask  ten  times  its  size,  and  filled  with 
aquafortis  !  I  observed  that  the  squaws  drank 
more  freely  than  the  warriors,  and  again  my 
spirits  were  about  to  be  depressed,  when  the  re- 
poii;  of  a  gun  was  heard  at  a  distance.  The  In- 
dians all  jumped  on  their  feet.  The  singing 
and  drinking  were  both  brought  to  a  stand,  and 
I  saw,  with  inexpressible  joy,  the  men  walk  off 
to  some  distance  and  talk  to  the  squaws.  I 
knew  that  they  were  consulting  about  me,  and 
I  foresaw  that  in  a  few  moments  the  warriors 
would  go  to  discover  the  cause  of  the  gun  hav- 
ing been  fired  so  near  their  camp.  I  expected 
that  the  squaws  would  be  left  to  guard  me. 
Well,  sir,  it  was  just  so.  They  returned  ;  the 
men  took  up  their  guns,  and  walked  away.  The 
squaws  sat  down  again,  and  in  less  than  iave 
minutes  had  my  bottle  up  to  their  dirty  mouths, 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  33o 

gui-gling  down  their  throats  the  remains  of  the 
whisky. 

" '  With  what  pleasure  did  I  see  them  becom- 
ing more  and  more  drunk,  until  the  liquor  took 
such  hold  of  them  that  it  was  quite  impossible 
for  these  women  to  be  of  any  service.     They 
tiunbled  down,  rolled  about,  and  began  to  snore ; 
when  I,  having  no  other  chance  of  freeing  my- 
self  from  the  cords  that  fastened  me,  rolled  over 
and  over  toward  the  foe,  and,  after  a  short  time, 
burned  them  asunder.    I  rose  on  my  feet,  stretch- 
ed  my  stiffened  sinews,  snatched  up  my   rifle, 
and  for  once  in  my  life  spared  that  of  Indians. 
I  now  recollect  how  desirous  I  once  or  twice  felt 
to  lay  open  the  skulls  of  the  wretches  wath  my 
tomahawk  ;   but  when  I  again    thought  upon 
killing  beings  unprepared  and  unable  to  defend 
themselves,  it  looked  like  murder  without  need, 
and  I  gave  up  the  idea. 

"  '  But,  su',  I  felt  determined  to  mark  the  spot, 
and  walking  to  a  thrifty  ash  sapling  I  cut  out 
of  it  three  large  chips,  and  ran  off.  I  soon 
reached  the  river,  soon  crossed  it,  and  threw 
myself  deep  into  the  canebrakes,  imitating  the 


336  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

tracks  of  an  Indian  with  my  feet  so  tliat  no 
chance  might  be  left  for  those  from  whom  I  had 
escaped  to  overtake  me. 

" '  It  is  now  nearly  twenty  years  since  this 
happened,  and  more  than  five  since  I  left  the 
whites'  settlements,  which  I  might  probably 
never  have  visited  again  had  I  not  been  called 
on  as  a  witness  in  a  lawsuit  that  was  pending 
in  Kentucky,  and  which  I  really  believe  would 
never  have  been  settled  had  I  not  come  forward 
and  established  the  beginning  of  a  cei-tain  bound- 
ary line.     This  is  the  story,  sir  : 

"  ^  Mr. moved  from  Old  Virginia  into  Ken- 
tucky, and  ha^dng  a  large  tract  granted  to  him 
in  the  new  State,  laid  claim  to  a  certain  parcel 
of  land  adjoining  Green  Kiver,  and,  as  chance 
would  have  it,  took  for  one  of  his  corners  the 
very  ash  tree  on  which  I  had  made  my  mark, 
and  finished  his  survey  of  some  thousands  of 
acres,  beginning,  as  it  is  expressed  in  the  deed, 
"  at  an  ash  marked  by  three  distinct  notches  of 
the  tomahawk  of  a  white  man." 

"  *  The  tree  had  gi*own  much,  and  the  bark  had 
covered  the  marks  ;  but,  somehow  or  other,  Mr. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOUNL.  337 

heard  from  some  one  all  that  I  have  already 

said  to  you,  aud  thinking  that  I  might  remember 
the  spot  alluded  to  in  the  deed,  but  which  was  no 
longer  discoverable,  ^vrote  for  me  to  come  and  tiy 
at  least  to  find  the  place  or  the  tree.  His  letter 
mentioned  that  all  my  expenses  should  be  paid, 
and  not  caring  much   about  once   more  going 

back  to  Kentucky  I  started   and  met  Mr. . 

After  some  conversation,  the  affair  Avith  the  In- 
dians came  to  my  recollection.  I  considered  for 
a  while,  and  began  to  think  that  after  all  I  could 
find  the  very  spot,  as  well  as  the  tree,  if  it  was 

yet  standing. 

u  4  ]^j. and  I  mounted  our  hoi*ses,  and  off 

we  went  to  the  Green  River  Bottoms.  After 
some  difficulties— for  you  must  be  aware,  sir, 
that  great  changes  have  taken  place  in  those 
^voods— I  found  at  last  the  spot  where  I  had 
crossed  the  river,  and,  waiting  for  the  moon  to 
rise,  made  for  the  course  in  which  I  thought 
the  ash  tree  grew.  On  approaching  the  place,  I 
felt  as  if  the  Indians  were  there  still,  and  as  if  I 
was  still  a  prisoner  among  them.     Mr. and 


»t 


338  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

I  camped  near  what  I  conceived  the  spot,  and 
waited  mitil  the  return  of  day. 

" '  At  the  rising  of  the  sun  I  was  on  foot,  and, 
after  a  good  deal  of  musing,  thought  that  an  ash 
tree  then  in  sight  must  be  the  very  one  on  which 
I  had  made  my  mark  I  felt  as  if  there  could 
be  no  doubt  of  it,  and  mentioned  my  thought  to 

Mr. .     "  Well,  Colonel  Boone,"  said  he,  "  if 

you  think  so,  I  hope  it  may  prove  true,  but  we 
must  have  some  witnesses ;  do  you  stay  here 
about  and  I  will  go  and  bring  some  of  the  settlers 

whom  I  know."     I  agreed.     Mr. trotted  off, 

and  I,  to  pass  the  time,  rambled  about  to  see  if 
a  deer  w^as  still  living  in  the  land.  But  ah !  sir, 
what  a  wonderful  difference  thiii;y  years  make 
in  the  country  !  Why,  at  the  time  when  I  was 
caught  by  the  Indians,  you  would  not  have 
walked  out  in  any  direction  for  more  than  a 
mile  mthout  shooting  a  buck  or  a  bear. 
There  were  then  thousands  of  buffaloes  on  the 
hills  in  Kentucky  ;  the  land  looked  as  if  it  never 
would  become  poor  ;  and  to  hunt  in  those  days 
was  a  pleasure  indeed.  But  when  I  was  left  to 
\nyself  on  the  banks  of  Green  Kiver,  I  dare  say 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  839 

for  the  last  time  in  my  life,  a  few  signa  only  of 
deer  were  to  be  seen,  and,  as  to  a  deer  itself,  I 

saw  none. 

a  c  jyjj.. returned,  accompanied  by  three 

gentlemen.  They  looked  upon  me  as  if  I  had 
been  Washington  himself,  and  walked  to  the  ash 
tree,  which  I  now  called  my  owti,  as  if  in  quest 
of  a  long-lost  treasure.  I  took  an  ax  from 
one  of  them,  and  cut  a  few  chips  off  the  bark. 
Still  no  signs  were  to  be  seen.  So  I  cut  again 
until  I  thought  it  was  time  to  be  cautious,  and  I 
scraped  and  worked  away  with  my  butcher- 
knife  until  I  did  come  to  where  my  tomahawk 
had  left  an  impression  in  the  wood.  We  now 
went  regularly  to  work,  and  scraped  at  the  tree 
mth  care  until  three  hacks,  as  plain  as  any  three 

notches  ever  were,  could  be  seen.     Mr. and 

tlie  other  gentlemen  were  astonished,  and  I  must 
allow  I  ^vas  as  much  surprised  as  pleased  myself. 
I  made  affidavit  of  this   remarkable  occun-ence 

in  presence  of  these  gentlemen.     Mr. gained 

his  cause.  I  left  Green  River  forever,  and  came 
to  where  we  now  are  and,  sir,  I  wish  you  a  good- 
night;  " 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Colonel  Boone  receives  a  large  grant  of  land  from  the  Spanish 
Government  of  Upper  Louisiana— He  subsequently  loses  it 
by  neglecting  to  secure  the  formal  title — His  lawsuits  in 
his  new  home— Character  of  the  people—Sketch  of  tke  his- 
tory of  Missouri— Colonel  Boone's  hunting— He  pays  his 
debts  by  the  sale  of  furs— Hunting  excursions  continued— 
In  danger  from  the  Indians— Taken  sick  in  liis  hunting 
camp— His  relatives  settled  in  his  neighborhood— Colonel 
Boone  applies  to  Congress  to  recover  his  land— The  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  supports  his  claim— Death  of  Mrs. 
Boone— Results  of  the  application  to  Congress— He  receives 
one-eleventh  part  of  his  just  claim— He  ceases  to  hunt- 
Occupations  of  his  declining  years— Mr.  Harding  paints  his 
portrait. 

In  consideration  of  his  official  services  as 
Syndic,  ten  thousand  ai^Dents*  of  excellent  land 
were  given  to  Colonel  Boone  by  tlie  Govern- 
ment. Under  the  special  law,  in  order  to  make 
his  title  good,  he  should  have  obtained  a  con- 
firmation of  his  grant  from  the  immediate  rep- 
resentative of  the  Crown,  then  residing  in  New 

*  An  arpent  of  land  is  eightv-five  hundredtlis  of  an  acre. 

34:0 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  3lt 

Orleans.  But  his  friend,  the  Commandant  at 
St.  Louis,  undertook  to  dispense  with  his  res- 
idence on  the  land  which  Avas  another  condition 
to  a  sound  title,  and  Boone  probably  supposed 
that  '*  all  would  be  right "  Avithout  attending  to 
any  of  the  formalities,  and  neglected  to  take  the 
necessary  steps  for  holding  his  land  securely. 

It  is  probable  that  he  foresaw  that  Missouri 
would  soon  become  a  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  expected  justice  from  that  quarter.  But  in 
this  he  Avas  disappointed,  for  when  that  event 
took  place,  the  commissioners  of  the  United 
States  appointed  to  decide  on  confirmed  claims 
felt  constrained  by  their  instructions  and  rejected 
Colonel  Boone's  claims  for  want  of  legal  for- 
malities. 

Thus  was  the  noble  pioneer  a  second  time  de- 
prived of  the  recompense  of  his  inestimable  serv- 
ices by  his  inattention  to  the  precaution  neces- 
sary for  securing  his  rights.  This  second  mis- 
fortune came  upon  him  some  time  after  the 
period  of  which  we  are  now  writing. 

Meantime  Colonel  Boone  found  his  residence 
in  Missouri  agreeable,  and  in  every  respect  con- 


342  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE, 

genial  to  his  habits  and  tastes.  His  duties  as 
Syndic  were  light ;  and  he  was  allowed  ample 
time  for  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  and  for  oc- 
casional toiu's  of  hunting,  in  which  he  so  greatly- 
delighted.  Trapping  beaver  was  another  of  his 
favorite  pursuits,  and  in  this  new  country  he 
found  abundance  of  this  as  well  as  other  species 
of  game. 

A  greater  part  of  the  people  of  Missouri  were 
emigrants  from  the  United  States,  pioneers  of 
the  West,  who  had  already  resisted  Indian  ag- 
gressions, and  were  welcome  by  the  French  and 
Spanish  settlers  as  a  clear  accession  to  their 
military  strength. 

A  brief  notice  of  the  history  of  this  State, 
showing  how  the  different  kinds  of  population 
came  there,  will  be  not  inappropriate  in  this 
place. 

Though  the  French  were  the  first  settlers,  and 
for  a  long  time  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
Missouri,  yet  a  very  small  portion  of  her  present 
population  is  of  that  descent  A  fort  was  built 
by  that  people  as  early  as  1719,  near  the  site  of 
the  present  capital,  called  Fort  Orleans,  and  its 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BUUNE.  3:^3 

lead  mines  worked  to  some  extent  tlie  next  year. 
St.  Genevieve,  the  oldest  town  in  the  State,  was 
settled  in  1755,  and  St.  Louis  in  1764.     At  the 
treaty  of  1763  it  was  assigned,  with  all  the  ter- 
ritory west  of  the  Mississippi,  to  Spain.     "  In 
1780,  St.  Louis  was  besieged  and  attacked  by 
a  body  of  British  troops  and   Indians,   fifteen 
hundred  and  foi-ty  strong."     During  the  siege, 
sixty  of  the  French  were  killed.     The  siege  was 
raised  by  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark,  who 
came  with  five  hundred  men  to  the  relief  of  the 
place.     At  the  close  of  the  American  Ee volution, 
the  teiiitory  west  of  the  Mississippi  remained 
with  Spain  till  it  was  ceded  to  France,  in  1801. 
In  1803,  at  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  it  came 
into  the  possession  of  the  United  States,  and 
f  onned  part  of  the  territory  of  Louisiana  until 
the  formation  of  the  State  of  that  name  *    ).812, 
when  the  remainder  of  the  territory  was  named 
Missouri,  from  which  (after  a  stormy  debate  in 
Congress  as  to  the  admission  of  slaver}-)   was 
separated  the    present    State    of  ilissouri   in 
1721/ 

♦  Lippinoott'B  Gazett««r. 


344  I-IFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

The  office  of  Syndic,  to  whicli  Colonel  Boone 
liad  l^een  appointed,  is  similar  to  that  of  justice 
of  the  peace  under  our  own  government :  but  it 
is  more  extensive,  as  combining  military  with 
civil  powers.  Its  exercise  in  Colonel  Boone's 
district  did  not  by  any  means  occupy  the  whole 
of  his  time  and  attention.  On  the  contrary,  he 
found  sufficient  time  for  hunting  in  the  winter 
months — the  regular  hunting  season.  At  first 
he  was  not  very  successful  in  obtaining  valuable 
furs,  but  after  two  or  three  seasons  he  was  able 
to  secure  a  sufficient  quantity  to  enable  him,  by 
the  proceeds  of  their  sale,  to  discharge  some  out- 
standing debts  in  Kentucky;  and  he  made  a 
journey  thither  for  that  purpose.  When  he  had 
seen  each  creditor,  and  paid  him  all  he  de- 
manded, he  returned  home  to  Missouri,  and  on 
his  ai*  il  he  had  but  half  a  dollar  remaining. 
"To  his  family,"  says  Mr.  Peck,  "  and  a  circle  of 
friends  who  had  called  to  see  him,  he  said, 
'Now  I  am  ready  and  w^illing  to  die.  I  am 
relieved  from  a  burden  that  has  long  oppressed 
me.  I  have  paid  all  my  debts,  and  no 
one   will  sajj  when   I   am  gone,  "Boone  waa 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  345 

a   dishonest  mau."      I  am  perfectly  wiUing  to 

die."* 

Boone  still  continued  his  hunting  excursions, 
attended  sometimes  by  some  friend :  but  most 
frequently  by  a  black  servant  boy.  On  one  of 
these  occasions  these  two  had  to  resist  an  attack 
of  Osage  Indians,  whom  they  speedily  put  to 
flight.  At  another  time,  when  he  was  entirely 
alone,  a  large  encampment  of  Indians  made  its 
appearance  in  his  neighborhood  ;  and  he  was 
compelled  to  secrete  hhnself  for  twenty  days 
in  his  camp  cooking  his  food  only  in  the  middle 
of  the  night,  so  that  the  smoke  of  his  fire  would 
not  be  seen.  At  the  end  of  this  long  period  of 
inaction  the  Indians  went  oif. 

At  another  time,  while  in  his  hunting  camp, 
with  only  a  negro  boy  for  his  attendant,  he  fell 
sick  and  lay  a  long  time  unable  to  go  out.  When 
sufficiently  recovered  to  walk  out,  he  pointed 
out  to  the  ])oy  a  place  where  he  w  ished  to  be 
buried  if  he  should  die  in  camp,  and  also  gave 

*  The  ownei-s  of  tlie  money  of  which  he  was  robbed  on  his 
journey  to  Virginia,  as  ah-eady  related,  had  vohintarily  relin- 
quished all  claims  on  him.    This  was  a  simple  act  of  justice. 


346  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

the  boy  very  exact  directions  about  his  buiiaJ, 
and  the  disposal  of  his  rifle,  blankets  and 
peltry* 

Among  the  relations  of  Colonel  Boone,  who 
were  settled  in  his  neighborhood,  were  Daniel 
Morgan  Boone,  his  eldest  son  then  living,  w^ho 
had  gone  out  before  his  father  ;  Nattra,  with  his 
wife,  who  had  followed  in  1800  ;  and  Flanders 
Callaway,  his  son-in-law,  who  had  come  out  about 
the  tune  that  Missouri,  then  Upper  Louisiana, 
became  a  part  of  the  United  States  territory^f 

We  have  abeady  stated  that  the  land  granted 
to  Colonel  Boone,  in  consideration  of  his  per- 
forming the  duties  of  Syndic,  was  lost  by  his 
omission  to  comply  with  the  legal  formalities 
necessary  to  secure  his  title. 

In  addition  to  the  ten  thousand  arpents  of 
land  thus  lost,  he  had  been  entitled  as  a  citizen 
to  one  thousand  arpents  of  land  according  to 
the  usage  in  other  cases ;  but  he  appears  not  to 
have  complied  with  the  condition  of  actual  resi- 
dence on  this  land,  and  it  was  lost  in  conse- 
quence. 

*  Peck.  t  IWd. 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  347 

In  1812,  Colonel  Boone  sent  a  petition  to 
Congre8S  praying  for  a  confinnation  of  his  orig- 
inal claims.  In  order  to  give  greater  Vv'eiglit  to 
his  application,  he  presented  a  memorial  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  Kentucky,  on  the  thir- 
teenth of  January,  1812,  soliciting  the  aid  of 
that  body  in  obtaining  from  Congress  the  con- 
firmation of  his  claims. 

The  Legislature,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  passed 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  : 

"The  Legislature  of  Kentucky,  taking  into 
view  the  many  eminent  services  rendered  by 
Col.  Boone,  in  exploring  and  settling  the  western 
country,  from  which  great  advantages  have  re- 
sulted, not  only  to  this  State,  but  to  his  country 
in  general ;  and  that  from  circumstances  over 
which  he  had  no  control,  he  is  now  reduced  to 
poverty,  not  ha\ang,  so  far  as  appears,  an  acre 
of  land  out  of  the  vast  territory  he  has  been 
a  great  instrument  in  peopling ;  believing,  also, 
that  it  is  as  unjust  as  it  is  impolitic,  that  useful 
enterprise  and  eminent  services  should  go  unre- 
warded by  a  government  where  merit  confers 
the    onl}'    distinction;    and    having    sufficient 


3i8  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

reason  to  believe  that  a  grant  of  ten  thoHsand 
acres  of  land,  wliicli  he  claims  in  Upper  Louis- 
iana, would  have  been  confirmed  by  the  Spauish 
government,  had  not  said  territory  passed,  by 
cession,  into  the  hands  of  the  general  govern- 
ment: wherefore, 

"  Resolved,  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Kentucky, — That  our  Sena- 
tors in  Congress  be  i-equested  to  make  use  of 
their  exertions  to  procure  a  grant  of  land  in 
said  territory  to  said  Boone,  either  the  ten 
thousand  acres  to  which  he  appears  to  have  an 
equitable  claim,  from  the  grounds  set  forth  to 
this  Legislature,  by  ^vay  of  confirmation,  or  to 
such  quantity  in  such  place  as  shall  be  deemed 
most  ad\dsable,  by  way  of  donation.*" 

Notwithstanding  this  action  of  the  Legislature 
of  Kentucky,  Colonel  Boone's  appeal,  like  many 
other  just  and  reasonable  claims  presented  to 
Congress,  was  neglected  for  sometime.  During 
this  period  of  anxious  suspense,  Mrs.  Boone,  the 
faithful  and  affectionate  wife  of  the  venerable 
pioneer,  who  had  shared  his  toils  and  anxieties, 
and  cheei'ed  his  home  for  so  many  year^^*,  ^vas 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  349 

taten  from  his  side.  She  died  in  March,  1818, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  The  venerable 
pioneer  was  now  to  miss  her  cheerful  compan- 
ionship for  the  remainder  of  his  life ;  and  to 
a  man  of  his  affectionate  disposition  this  must 
have  been  a  severe  privation. 

Colonel  Boone's  memorial  to  Congress  re- 
ceived the  earnest  and  active  support  of  Judge 
Cobum,  Joseph  Vance,  Judge  Burnett,  and 
other  distinguished  men  belonging  to  the  West- 
ern country.  But  it  was  not  till  the  24th  of 
December,  1813,  that  the  Committee  on  Public 
Lands  made  a  report  on  the  subject. 

The  report  certainly  is  a  very  inconsistent 
one,  as  it  fully  admits  the  justice  of  his  claim  to 
eleven  thousand  arpents  of  land,  and  recom- 
mends Congress  to  give  him  the  miserable  pit- 
tance of  one  thousand  arpents,  to  ^vhich  he  ^vas 
entitled  in  common  with  all  the  other  emigrants 
to  Upper  Louisiana!  The  act  for  the  confir- 
mation of  the  title  passed  on  the  10th  of  Feb- 
ruar}^,  1814. 

For  ten   years  before   his   decease.   Colonel 
Boone  gave  up  his  favorite  pursuit  of  hunting. 


350  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 

The  infirmities  of  age  rendered  it  imprudent  for 
him  to  venture  alone  in  the  woods. 

The  closing  years  of  Colonel  Boone's  life  were 
passed  in  a  manner  entirely  characteristic  of  the 
man.  He  appears  to  have  considered  love  to 
mankind,  reverence  to  the  Supreme  Being,  de- 
light in  his  works  and  constant  usefulness,  as 
the  legitimate  ends  of  life.  After  the  decease 
of  Mrs.  Boone,  he  divided  his  time  among  the 
different  members  of  his  family,  making  his 
home  with  his  eldest  daughter,  Mrs.  Callaway, 
visiting  his  other  children,  and  especially  his 
youngest  son,  Major  Nathan  Boone,  for  longer 
or  shorter  periods,  according  to  his  inclination 
and  convenience.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  his  descendants,  some  of  whom  were  of  the 
fifth  generation ;  and  he  took  great  delight  in 
their  society. 

*'Hi8  time  at  home,"  says  Mr.  Peck,  "was 
usually  occupied  in  some  useful  manner.  He 
made  powder-horns  for  his  gi^andchildren, 
neighbors,  and  friends,  many  of  which  were 
carved  and  ornamented  with  much  taste.  He 
repaired  lifles,  and  performed  various  descrip- 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  351 

tions  of  handicraft  with  neatness  and  finish. 
Making  powder-horns — repairing  rifles — em- 
ployments in  pleasing  unison  with  old  pursuits, 
and  by  the  associations  thus  raised  in  his  mind, 
always  recalling  the  pleasui'es  of  the  chase,  the 
stilly  whispering  hum  of  the  pines,  the  frag- 
rance of  wild  flowers,  and  the  deep  solitude  of 
the  primeval  forest." 

In  the  summer  of  1820,  Chester  Harding,  who 
of  American  artists  is  one  of  the  most  celebrated 
for  the  accuracy  of  his  likenesses,  paid  a  visit  to 
Colonel  Boone  for  the  purpose  of  taking  his 
portrait.  The  Colonel  was  quite  feeble,  and 
had  to  be  supported  by  a  friend,  the  Rev.  J.  E. 
Welsh,  while  sitting  to  the  artist.^ 

This  portrait  is  the  original  from  which 
most  of  the  engravings  of  Boone  have  been 
executed.  It  represents  him  in  his  hunting- 
dress,  with  his  large  hunting-knife  in  his  belt. 
The  face  is  very  thin  and  pale,  and  the  hair  per- 
fectly white,  the  eyes  of  a  bright  blue  color,  and 
the  expression  of  the  countenance  mild  and 
pleasing. 

•*Peck.    Life  of  Boone.  :^ 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Last  illness,  and  death  of  Colonel  Boone — His  funeral  — 
Account  of  his  family — His  remains  and  those  of  his  wife 
removed  from  Missouri,  and  reinterred  in  the  new  cemetery 
in  Frankfort,  Kentucky— Character  of  Colonel  Boone. 

In  September,  1820,  Colonel  Boone  liad  an 
attack  of  fever,  from  wliicli  he  recovered  so  as 
to  make  a  \asit  to  the  house  of  his  son,  Major 
Nathan  Boone.  Soon  after,  from  an  indiscre- 
tion in  his  diet,  he  had  a  relapse  ;  and  after  a 
confinement  to  the  house  of  only  three  days,  he 
expired  on  the  26th  of  September,  in  the  eighty- 
sixth  year  of  his  age. 

He  was  buried  in  a  coffin  which  he  had  kept 
ready  for  several  years.  His  remains  were  laid 
by  the  side  of  those  of  his  deceased  wife.  The 
great  respect  and  reverence  entertained  toward 
him,  attracted  a  large  concourse  from  the  neigh- 
boring country  to  the  funeral.     The  Legislature 

of  Missouri,  then  in  session,  passed  a  resolution 
352 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  3:>a 

that  the  membei"s  should  wear  the  badge  of 
mourning  usual  in  such  cases  for  twenty  days  ; 
and  an  adjournment  for  one  day  took  place. 

Colonel  Boone  had  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. The  two  oldest  sons,  as  already  related, 
were  killed  by  the  Indians.  His  third,  Colonel 
Daniel  Morgan  Boone,  resided  in  Missouri,  and 
died  about  1842,  past  the  age  of  eighty.  Jesse 
Boone,  the  fourth  son,  settled  in  Missouii  about 
1805,  and  died  at  St.  Louis  a  few  years  after. 
Major  Nathan  Boone,  the  youngest  child,  resided 
for  many  years  in  Missouri,  and  received  a  com- 
inission  in  the  United  States  Dragoons.  He  was 
still  living  at  a  recent  date.  Daniel  Boone's 
daughters,  Jemima,  Susannah,  Rebecca,  and 
Lavinia,  were  all  married,  lived  and  died  in  Ken- 
tucky. 

In  1845  the  citizens  of  Frankfort,  Kentucky, 
having  prepared  a  rural  cemetery,  resolved  to 
consecrate  it  by  interring  in  it  the  remains  of 
Daniel  Boone  and  his  wife.  The  consent  of 
the  family  being  obtained  the  reintennent  took 
place  on  the  20th  of  August  of  that  year. 

The  pageant  was  splendid  and  deeply  interest- 
ed 


f;:;4-  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE. 


Dig. 


A  few  survivoi^  of  Boone's  contemporaries 
were  present,  gathered  from  all  parts  of  the 
State,  and  a  numerous  train  of  his  descendants 
and  relatives  led  the  van  of  the  procession  es- 
corting the  hearse,  which  was  decorated  with 
forest  evergreens  and  white  lilies,  an  appropriate 
tribute  to  the  simple  as  well  as  glorious  char- 
acter of  Boone,  and  suitable  emblem  of  his  en- 
during fame.  The  address  was  delivered  by  Mr. 
Crittenden,  and  the  concourse  of  citizens  from 
Kentucky  and  the  neighboring  States  was  im- 
mense. 

The  reader  of  the  foregoing  pages  will  have 
no  difficulty  in  forming  a  correct  estimate  of 
Boone's  character.  He  was  one  of  the  purest 
and  noblest  of  the  pioneers  of  the  West.  Re- 
garding himself  as  an  instrument  in  the  hands 
of  Providence  for  accomplishing  great  purposes, 
he  was  nevertheless  always  modest  and  unas- 
suming, never  seeking  distinction,  but  always 
accepting  the  post  of  duty  and  danger. 

As  a  military  leader  he  was  remarkable  for 
prudence,  coolness,  bravery,  and  imperturbable 
self-possession.     His  knowledge  of  the  character 


LIFE  OF  DANIEL  BOONE.  355 

of  the  Indians  enabled  him  to  divine  their  in- 
t-entions  and  baffle  their  best  laid  plans  ;  and 
notwithstanding  his  resistance  of  their  inroads, 
he  was  always  a  great  favorite  amongst  them. 
As  a  father,  husband,  and  oitizen  his  character 
seems  to  have  been  faultless  ;  and  his  intercourse 
with  his  fellow-men  was  always  marked  by  the 
strictest  integrity  and  honor. 


->^ 


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Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  SlOO. 

The  Blory  Is  chock  full  of  stirrinc:  incidents,  while  the  amusine  situ* 
ations  are  furnished  by  Joshua  Bickford,  from  Pumpkin  toUow,  and  th* 
fellow  who  modestly  styles  himself  the  '•liiu-tail  Roarer,  from  Pike  Co., 
Missouri."  Mr.  Al;rer  never  writes  a  poor  book,  and  "Joe's  Luck"  is  cer- 
tainly one  of  his  best. 

Tom  the   Bootblack;  or.   The   Road   to   Success.     By 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

A  bright,  enterprising  lad  was  Tom  the  Bootblack.  He  was  not  at  all 
ashamed  of  his  humble  callln?,  though  always  on  the  lookout  to  better 
himself.  The  lad  started  for  Cinciunati  to  look  up  his  heritage.  Mr, 
Grey,  tbi  uuck,  did  not  hesitate  to  employ  a  rutlian  to  kill  the  lad.  The 
plan  failed,  and  Gilbert  Grey,  once  Tom  the  bootblack,  came  into  a  com- 
fortable  fortune.     This   is   one   of   Mr.    Alger's    best    stories. 

Dan  the  Newsboy.    By   Horatio   Alger^   Jr.    12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Dan  Mordaunt  and  his  mother  live  in  a  poor  tenement,  and  the  lad  19 
pluckily  trjiug  to  make  ends  meet  by  selling  papers  in  the  streets  of  New 
York.  A  little  heiress  of  six  years  is  coulided  to  the  care  of  the  Mor- 
dannts.  The  child  is  kidnapped  and  Dan  tracks  the  child  to  the  house 
where  she  Is  hidden,  and  rescues  her.  The  v.ealtliy  aunt  of  tlie  little 
heiress  Is  so  delighted  with  Dan's  courage  and  many  good  qualities 
that   she    adopts   him    as   her   heir. 

Tony  the  Hero:     A    Brave    Boy's    Adventure  v/ith  a 

Tramp.    By  Horatio  Alger,  Ju.    12mo,  cloth,  il'iustrated.  price  Si  00. 

Tony,  a  sturdy  bri.4ht-eyed  boy  of  fourteen,  is  under  the  control  of 
Rudolph  Rugg,  a  t'lorough  rascal.  After  ranch  abuse  Tony  runs  away 
and  gets  a  job  a?  stal'le  boy  :u  a  country  hotel  Tony  is  heir  to  a 
large  estate.  Rudolph  for  a  consideration  hunts  up  Tony  and  thrown 
him  down  a  deep  well.  Of  course  Tony  escanes  from  the  fate  provided 
for  him,  and  by  a  brave  act,  a  rich  friend  Secures  his  rights  and  Tony 
Is    prosperous.     A    very    entertaining    book. 

The  Errand  Boy;  or,  How  Phil  Brent  Won  Success. 

By  Horatio  A-gkr,  Jr.     13mo,  cloth  illustrated,  price  Sl.W. 

The  career  of  "The  Errand  Boy"  embraces  tbe  city  adventurffi  of  .i 
tmart  country  lad.  Philip  was  brought  up  by  a  kind-hearted  innkeeper 
named  Brent.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Brent  f)aved  the  way  for  the  hero'3 
subsequent  troubles.  A  retired  merchant  in  New  York  secures  him  the 
situation   of   errand    boy,    and    thereafter   stands    as   his   friend. 

Tom  Temple's  Career.     By  Horatio  .A  lger,  Jr.     13 mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  51-00. 

Tom  Temple  is  a  bright,  self-reliant  lad.  He  leaves  Plympton  village 
to  seek  work  in  New  York,  whence  he  undertakes  an  Important  mission 
to  California.  Some  of  his  adventures  in  the  far  west  are  so  startling  th?it 
the  reader  will  scarcely  close  the  book  uutil  the  last  page  shall  have  beeu 
reached.     The  tale  is  written  in  Mr.  Alger's  most  fascinating  style. 

For  sale  by  r.ll  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  **  orlcft  bj  Uhi 
r)n>..UHh*r.   A.   L.  BUET.  W-68  Ou«Q«  gtrMk  Hew  Y(a»-  ^       • 


2  A.  L,  BUItrs  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS.  ""     ' 

Frank  Fov/ler,  the  Cash  Boy.    By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Frank  Fowler,  a  poor  boy,  bravely  dotermines  to  make  a  living  for 
hiiriselr'  and  his  foster-sister  Grace.  Goius  to  New  York  be  obtains  8 
situation  as  cash  boy  la  a  dry  goods  store.  He  renders  a  service  to  a 
wealthy  old  gentleman  who  takes  a  fancy  to  the  lad,  and  thereafter 
helps    the    lad    to   gain   success    and    fortune. 

Tom  Thatcher's   Fortune.     By    Horatio    Alger,  Jr. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Tom  Thatcher  is  a  brave,  ambitious,  unselfish  boy.  He  supports  hia 
mother  and  sister  on  meagre  wajj.^s  earned  as  a  shoe-pegger  in  John 
Simpson's  factory.  Tom  Is  discharged  from  the  factory  and  starts  over- 
land for  California.  He  meets  with  many  adventures.  The  story  is  told 
in  a  way  which  has  made  Mr.  Alger's  name  a  household  word  in  so  many 
homes. 

The  Train    Boy.    By    Horatio    Alger,    Jr.     12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  SI. 00. 

Paul  Palmer  was  a  wide-awa'/re  boy  of  sixteen  who  supported  hia  mother 
and  sister  by  selling  books  and  papers  on  the  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad.  He  defects  a  young  man  in  the  act  of  picking  the  pocket  of  a 
young  lady.  In  a  railvTay  accident  many  passengers  are  killed,  but  Paul 
Is  fortunate  enough  to  assist  a  Chicago  merchant,  who  out  of  gratitude 
takes  him  into  bis  employ.  Paul  succeeds  with  tact  and  judgment  aud 
is   well   started   on    the   road   to   business  prominence. 

Mark  Mason's  Victory.     The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of 

a  Telegraph  Boy.    By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

$1.00. 

Mark  Mason,  the  telegraph  boy,  was  a  sturdy,  honest  lad,  who  plucklly 
won  his  way  to  success  by  his  honest  manly  efforts  under  many  diih- 
culties.  This  story  will  please  the  very  large  class  of  boys  who  regard 
Mr,   Alger  as  a   favorite  author. 

A  Debt  of  Honor,     The  Story  of  Gerald  Lane's  Success 

in  the  Far  West.    By  Horatio  Al<jeb,  Js.     l2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

JJl.OO. 

The  story  of  Gerald  Lane  and  the  account  of  the  many  trials  and  dis- 
appointments which  he  passed  through  befoi  he  attained  success,  will 
Interest  all  boys  who  have  read  the  previous  stories  of  thie  delightful 
author. 

Ben  Bruce.     Scenes  in  the  Life  of  a  Bowery  Newsboy. 

tsy  HoaATio  Algsr,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Ben  Bruce  wa3  a  brave,  manly,  generous  boy.  The  story  of  his  efforts, 
and  many  seeming  failures  and  disappointments,  and  his  final  success,  are 
most  interesting  to  all  readers.  The  tale  is  written  in  Mr.  Alger't 
aiost  fascinating  style. 

The  Castaways;  or,  On  the  Florida  Eeefs.    By  James 

Otis.    12n;o,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  tale  smacks  of  the  salt  sea.  From  the  moment  that  the  Sea 
Queen  leaves  lov.-er  New  York  bay  til!  the  breeze  leaves  her  becalmed  off 
the  coast  of  Florida,  one  can  almost  hear  the  whistle  of  the  wind 
through  her  rigging,  the  creak  of  her  straining  cordage  as  she  heels  to 
the  keward.  The  adventures  of  Ben  Clark,  the  hero  of  the  storv  and 
.Jake  the  cook,  cannot  fail  to  charm  the  readei".  As  a  writer  for  young 
people   M.".    Otis   Is   a   prime   favorite. 

For  sale  bj  all  booksellor.s,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  tb% 
qablisher^  ▲.  L.  BJJRT,  68-5a  J)<uSe  Street,  ^w  York. 


A.  t.  burt's  books  fob  youxg  people.       .1 
BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Wrecked  on  Spider  Island ;  or,  How  Ned  Rogers  Found 

the  Treasure.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Ned  Rogcra,  a  "dowTj-rast"  plucky  lad  shiis  as  calilii  boy  to  earn 
a  livolihoud.  Ned  is  aiarooued  ou  Spider  Island,  aud  wliile  there  dis- 
covers a  wreck  submerged  in  the  sand,  and  finds  a  considerable  amount 
of  treasure.  Tlie  capture  of  the  treasure  and  tlie  incidents  oC  the 
voyage  serve  to  make  as  eutertaiuiug  a  stuiy  of  sea-life  as  the  mo3t 
captious    boy    could    desire. 

The  Search  for  the  Silver  City :  A  Tale  of  Adventure  ia 

Yucatan.    By  James  Otis.    12ino,  cloth,  illustrated,  prit-e  ?1.00. 

Two  lads,  Teddy  Wriglit  and  Noal  Emery,  embark  on  the  steam 
yacht  Day  Dream  for  a  cruise  to  the  tropics.  The  yacht  is  destroyed, 
by  fire,  and  then  the  boat  Is  cast  upon  the  coast  of  Yucatan.  They 
bear  of  the  wonderful  Silver  City,  of  the  Chuu  Santa  Cruz  Indians,, 
and  with  the  help  of  a  faithful  Indian  ally  carry  off  a  number  of  the! 
golden  images  from  the  temples.  Pursued  with  relentless  vigor  at  last 
their  escape  is  effected  in  an  astouishiug  manner.  The  story  is  bo 
full  of  exciting  incidents  that  the  reader  is  quite  carried  away  with 
the   novelty    and    realism   of    the   narrative. 

A    Runaway    Brig;  or,    An    Accidental    Cruise.     By 

James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  is  a  sea  tale,  and  the  reader  can  look  out  upon  the  wide  shimmer- 
ing sea  as  it  flashes  back  the  sunlight,  and  imagine  himself  afloat  with 
Harry  Vandyne,  Walter  Morse,  Jim  Libby  aud  that  old  shell-back,  Bob 
Brace,  on  the  brig  Bonita.  The  boys  discover  a  mysterious  document 
which  enables  them  to  find  a  burled  treasure.  They  are  stranded  on 
an  island  aud  at  last  are  rescued  with  the  treasure.  The  boys  are  sure 
to  be  fascinated  with  this  entertaining  story. 

The    Treasure    Finders:     A    Boy's    Adventures    in 

Nicaragua.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  SI. 00. 

Boy  and  Dean  Coloney,  with  their  guide  Tongla,  leave  their  fatber'i 
Indigo  plantation  to  visit  the  wonderful  ruius  of  an  ancient  city.  The 
boys  eagerly   explore   the   temples   of   an  extinct   race   aud   discover  three 

S olden  images  cunningly  hidden  away.  They  escape  with  the  greatest 
ifflculty.  Eventually  they  reach  safety  with  their  golden  prizes.  Wo 
doubt  if  there  ever  wa.<i  written  a  more  eutertainrug  story  than  "The 
Treasure    Finders." 

Jack,  the  Hunchback.     A  Story  of  the  Coast  of  Maine. 

By  James  Otis.    Price  $1.00. 

This  Is  the  story  of  a  little  hunchback  who  lived  on  Cape  Elizabeth, 
OQ  the  coast  of  Maine.  His  trials  and  successes  are  most  interesting. 
From  first  to  last  nothing  stays  the  Interest  of  the  narrative.  It  bears  ua 
along  as  ou  a  stream  whose  current  varies  In  direction,  but  never  loses 
Its    force. 

With  Washington  at  Monmouth:    A   Story   of  Three 

Philadelphia   Boys.     Fy  Jahes  Otis.     12mo,   ornamental  cloth,  olivine* 

edges,  illustrated,  price  $1.50. 

Three  Philadelphia  lads  assist  the  American  spies  and  make  regulal 
and  frequent  visits  to  Valley  Forge  in  the  Winter  while  the  British 
occupied  the  city.  The  story  abounds  with  pictures  of  Colonial  life 
BklllfullT  drawn,  and  the  glimpses  of  Washington's  soldiers  which  are 
giren  snown  that  the  work  has  not  been  hastily  done,  or  without  con- 
alderable  study.  The  story  is  wholesome  and  pH*-'otic  in  tone,  as  are 
fill    of   Mr.    Otis'    works. 

Tor  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  ^-y  Jhe 
.ablUher,  A.  L.  STTRT.  62-j^a  Ouan*  Strtet.  N«w  York.  ^^ 


A.  t.  BUItl'^S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLB. 


BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

With  Lafayette  at  Yorktown:  A  Story  of  How  Two 

Boys  Joined  the  Continental  Army.    By  Jamks  Otis.    12mo,  ornamental 

cloth,  olivine  edges.  iUustrated,  price  S'1.50. 

Two  lads  from  Portmouth,  N.  H.,  attempt  to  enlist  in  the  Colonial 
Army,  and  are  given  employment  as  spies.  There  Is  no  lack  of  excitlne 
incidents  which  the  youthful  reader  craves,  but  It  is  healthful  excite- 
ment brimming  with  facts  which  every  boy  should  be  familiar  with, 
and  while  the  reader  is  following  the  adventures  of  Ben  Jaffra'-s  and 
Ned  Allen  he  is  acquiring  a  fund  of  historical  lore  which  will  remain 
in  his  memory  long  after  that  which  he  has  memorized  from  text- 
ooolss    has    been    forgotten. 

At  the  Siege  of  Havana,     "^eing  the  Experiences  of 

Three  Boys  Serving  under  Isi-ael  Putnam  in  1762.    Bv  James  Otis.    ISmcfc 

ornamental  cloth,  olivine  edges,  illustrated,  price  §1.50.  / 

"At    the    Siege    of    Havana"    deals    with    that    portion    of    the    Island's 

history    when    the    English    king    captured    the    capital,     thanks    to    the 

assistance   given   by   the   troops  from   New   England,   led  In  part  by  Col. 

Israel    Putnam. 

The  principal  characters  are  Darius  Lunt,  the  lad  who,  represented  as 
telling  the  story,  and  his  comrades,  Robert  Clement  atid  Nicholas 
Vallet.  Colonel  Putnam  also  figures  to  considerable  extent,  necessarily. 
In  the  tale,  and  the  whole  forms  one  of  the  most  readable  stories  founded  on 
historical    facts. 

The  Defense  of  Fort  Kenry.       A  Story  of  Wheeling 

^eek  in  1777.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  ornamental  cloth,  olivine  edges, 

Jlustrated,  price  Si. 50. 

Nowhere  in  the  history  of  our  country  can  be  found  more  heroic  or 
thrilling  incidents  than  in  the  story  of  those  brave  men  and  women 
who  founded  the  settlement  of  Wht.'eling  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia.  The 
recital  of  what  Elizabeth  Zane  did  is  in  itself  as  heroic  a  story  as  can 
be  imagined.  The  wondrous  bravery  displayed  by  Major  McCuUoch 
ani  his  gallant  comrades,  the  sufferings  of  the  colonists  and  their  sacrifice 
of  blood  and  life,  stir  the  blood  of  old  as  well  as  young  readers. 

The  Capture  of  the  Laughing  Mary.     A  Story  of  Three 

Ne-R  York  Boys  in  1776.    By  James  Ott^.    13mo.  ornamental  clo^h,  olivine 

3dp:es,  price  $1.50. 

*'I)urlng  the  British  occupancy  of  New  York,  ac  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution,  a  Yankee  lad  hears  of  the  plot  to  take  General  Washington's 
person,  and  calls  in  two  companions  to  assist  the  patriot  cause.  They 
do  some  astonishing  things,  and.  incidentally,  lay  the  way  for  aa 
American  navy  later,  by  the  exploit  which  gives  its  name  to  the 
work.  Mr.  Otis'  books  are  too  well  known  to  reQuire  any  particulae 
commendation  to  the  young." — Evening  Post. 

With  Warren  at  Bunker  Hill.    A  Story  of  the  Siege  of 

Boston.     By  James  Otis.     ISi  lo,  ornametnal  cloth,  olivine  edges,  illus- 
trated, price  Si. 50. 

"This  is  a  tale  of  the  siege  of  Boston,  which  opens  on  the  day  after 
the  doings  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  with  a  description  of  home  life 
In  Boston,  introduces  the  reader  to  the  British  camp  at  Charlestown, 
showa  Gen.  Warren  at  home,  describes  what  a  boy  thought  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Bill,  and  closes  with  the  raising  of  the  siege.  The 
three  heroes.  George  Wentworth,  Ben  Scarlett  and  an  old  ropemaker, 
incur  the  enmity  of  ^^  vonng  Torv,  who  causes  them  many  adv<»Dtures 
the  boys  will  like  to  read."— Detroit  Free  Press. 


For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  pent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  hr  th^ 
5^t>ll»ber,  4.  L.  BITET.  M-MHta»ft« .  Strest,   New  Ysrk. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 

00032195623 


This  book  musf  not 
be  taken  from  the 
Library  building. 


